A Message from the Honorary Executive Director

Dr Rajendra Prasad
FRCS(Glas) FRCS(Neurosurgery)
Hon. Honorary Executive Director to Indian Head Injury,
Foundation & Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon,
Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. India

India has the highest incidence of head injuries in the world, with essentially no infrastructure for rapid medical response and treatment. The absence of organized pre-hospital care and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), trained ambulance drivers and paramedics and improper handling by first responders has led to appalling accident statistics. Ninety five percent of trauma victims in India do not receive optimal care during the ‘Golden Hour’ immediately following injury. In India, 1 out of 6 trauma victim dies due to poor pre-hospital emergency care, while in USA, this figure is 1 out of 200. Every year more than a 100,000 people die from trauma related injuries on Indian roads. One third of those who die from head injuries could have been saved if quality care was available to them faster.

The Indian Head Injury Foundation endeavors to help build a comprehensive system in India for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and to set up India’s first state-of-the–art neuro-rehabilitation Hospital. Until the time that IHIF has its own facility, it is focusing on educational activities. Since 2008, the Foundation has conducted several educational activities, including 35 Primary Trauma Care (PTC) and Disaster Management courses for doctors, nurses, paramedics, policemen and first responders at schools and hotels. A disaster management and triage training module has been recently added to the primary trauma care course.

We have come a long way in the last two years. We have managed to bring awareness about our programs. People have been generous in their contributions. These contributions have in turn helped us in conducting our various activities.

With funds generated from fundraisers, we have bought mannequins and other equipments required, to conduct courses in different part of India. The most recent course was held for Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai for their staff. In India, training first responders is very important, as the arrival of an ambulance is most often delayed, during which time basic airway management and CPR by first responders can save lives. The American Embassy Health unit at Delhi has joined us in all our recent academic activities. In particular they have contributed to the triaging and disaster drill that we conduct.

The IHIF has also supported and developed a neuro-critical care course for intensivists on how to manage head injury patients in Intensive Care Units. The course introduces newer monitoring techniques, including ICP monitoring and are conducted under the aegis of the Indian Critical Care Society.

IHIF has conducted neuro-rehabilitation workshops with the aim of building a team of young rehabilitation specialists. These courses have been attended by over 400 physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. IHIF trained social workers have visited patient’s homes and organized physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychological counseling for patients.

The Primary Trauma Care (PTC) courses run by the Indian Head Injury Foundation are recognized by: World Health Organization (WHO), World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, and Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals New Delhi, and we are conducted by doctors and nurses of the foundation.

In the year ahead we hope to hire physiotherapists and occupation therapists to reinforce existing Neuro Rehabilitation units and extend their services to some Government hospitals, where these facilities are not available. We are to start free neuro-rehabilitation camps with the Delhi Commonwealth Women Association in February, 2011.

We are in the process of setting up an interactive website for patients and their families, through which they will get information regarding head injuries & the availability of therapists in their area. We hope to appoint state chapters of IHIF in all states of India. The first state unit (marwar chapter of IHIF) has already been set up at Jodhpur and has started functioning already.

With the continued support and personal interest taken by His Highness in all IHIF activities, we have been able to make a beginning but we have a long way to go.