Prioritising burn prevention within Sustainable Development Goals

Burn injury remains a neglected global public health challenge, disproportionately affecting the poor, marginalised populations, children and women. While prevention and improved health system responsiveness have led to a significant reduction in burn mortality and disability in high-income countries, outcomes remain poor in many low- and middle-income countries. Though the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) do not explicitly mention burn injury, there are numerous SDG targets that are directly or indirectly relevant to burn prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and social reintegration. Progress on many of these targets is slow or stagnating. To address this challenge, researchers, policymakers and stakeholders must urgently adopt the aligned burn-specific SDG targets and indicators tailored to national and regional contexts, to monitor progress and intensify multisectoral action. Without such a decisive commitment, burn injury prevention would not get the required policy attention.