Promoting Action on Child Helmet Use – Local Authorities Discuss Ways Forward in Hanoi, HCMC, and Danang
30/11/2011
A series of workshops held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang in November and December are mobilizing local road traffic safety agents. The workshops aim to inform, and to guide attendees in improving the child motorcycle helmet situation in their cities. They are part of the first phase of a national campaign entitled "Children also need a helmet". The campaign was launched earlier this month by the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), the National Traffic Police (C67), and the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation. The social marketing campaign will be accompanied by strengthened police enforcement, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
City officials and road safety specialists are leading the workshops in order to provide attendees with high quality information, an illustration of the government's serious commitment to this campaign at the local level.
The first workshop took place in Hanoi on November 12th and instructed 60 parents and teachers how best to protect their children and students, thereby equipping key influencers to be role models and promote responsible road behaviors.
In Ho Chi Minh City, a workshop on November 25th mobilized a different group of about 100 road safety agents. In addition to parents and teachers, attendees included police officers, hospital staff members, certified helmet manufacturers, and members of 24 districts' Bureaus of Traffic Safety and Bureaus of Education and Training.
A workshop in Danang is set to take place on December 17th.
