The Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative presents Helmets for Kids in Manila, Philippines
26/05/2010
Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative (GHVI) co-founders, the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation) and the FIA Foundation, worked with the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to donate 1,000 helmets to primary school students in Manila today. The first of its kind in the Philippines, this ceremony was organized in tandem with the Asian Development Bank Transport Forum. The Forum also marks the official announcement of the Asian Development Bank’s commitment to the Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative, with the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
Highlights include a helmet use training session with Michelle Yeoh, international film actress and Make Roads Safe Goodwill Ambassador, a symbolic helmet handover ceremony, and a fashion show by the students, displaying traffic-safety themed costumes.
According to the 2009 WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety, motorbikes constitute almost half of the vehicles on the Philippines’ roads, but there is no national helmet use law, no helmet standards, and wearing rates remain as low as 34 percent. Intervention is essential to change the road safety behavior – and the political and legislative road safety environment – of the Philippines. Helmets for Kids is a program piloted in Vietnam and implemented around the world; the impact of helmets and traffic safety education is great. Helmets reduce the chance of death by 42 percent and serious injury by 79 percent.
“The AAP supports this project not to encourage children to ride motorcycles but to teach and make them aware that when riding motorcycles they have to wear protective gears. We all have to help protect and save the lives of our most vulnerable road users. We thank the FIA Foundation, AIP Foundation and the ADB for giving us the opportunity to be a part of their “Helmet for Kids” project. And thank you also to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DepEd) for their whole hearted cooperation.” stated Johnny Angeles, AAP Director/Vice President, Chair- Road Safety Committee
Michelle Yeoh, Make Roads Safe Global Ambassador, says: “Parents always want the best for their children, and if your child is a passenger on a motorbike the best you can do is make sure they always wears a helmet. So many deaths and head injuries can be prevented, here in the Philippines and across the world, if we can get across this simple message: helmets save lives”.
“We are pleased to bring Helmets for Kids to the Philippines with the support of FIA Foundation, the Asian Development Bank and the Automobile Association Philippines,” states Greig Craft, President of the AIP Foundation. “Helmets are a proven intervention; they save lives and prevent serious injury. Through GHVI we work to create a new generation of safe and smart road users.”
About the Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative (GHVI)
GHVI aims to promote motorcycle helmet wearing across the developing world, working in partnership with governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations.
Established by the AIP Foundation, the FIA Foundation and the World Bank Global Road Safety Facility, and building on the experience of a successful national helmet campaign in Vietnam, the GHVI works with pilot countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to encourage the policy changes and investment decisions that can lead to increased and sustainable motorcycle helmet wearing. Country-level Helmet Vaccine Coalitions were established in Cambodia, Vietnam, Senegal and Nicaragua as the target implementing countries for 2010.
About AIP Foundation
AIP Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating the epidemic levels of road accident casualties in the developing world. Its milestone activities in Vietnam have led to regional expansion in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines. AIP Foundation owns and operates Protec Helmets, the world’s first ‘helmet business for social progress’, a commercial operation wherein all profits are put back into its community programs. The helmet operation designs and produces high quality, affordable ‘tropical’ helmets, also used in its signature Helmets for Kids program.
About FIA Foundation
The FIA Foundation is a UK registered international charity which promotes global road safety. Since 2006 the FIA Foundation has led the Make Roads Safe advocacy campaign, which called for and secured the first Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety and the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. The FIA Foundation also supports innovative road injury prevention programs, including GHVI.
About AAP
AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION PHILIPPINES (AAP) is the Philippines’ first and pioneering auto club. Founded in 1931, AAP is a non-stock, non-profit organization committed to the promotion of the general welfare of motorists.
At present, AAP is at the forefront of advancing the interests of motorists in the country. It provides club services for its members including emergency roadside services, traffic accident assistance, and driving education. It is also very actively involved in several motoring-related advocacies, most notable of which is Road Safety.
