23-29 April 2007 - First United Nations Global Road Safety Week
PAHO Organizes Panel Discussion on Regional Road Safety
WHAT: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) invites news media representatives and the public in general to attend a panel discussion at PAHO in Washington, D.C. in which experts on the field will discuss strategies to revert the number of traffic deaths and injuries seen in the Region, particularly those affecting the youth. This event is part of the activities PAHO is organizing in the context of the First United Nations Global Road Safety Week, which is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization.
WHEN: Thursday, April 26th, from 10 to 12, with the participation of these panelists:
- Dr. Eugenia Rodrigues, Regional Advisor on Road Safety (PAHO)
- Dr. Ann Dellinger, Epidemiologist, CDC (USA)
- Dr. Margie Sheriff, Federal Highway Administration (USA)
- Dr. Arthur L. Kellermann, Emory School of Medicine (EE.UU.)
- Mr. Russell Monllos, Teen Driving Safety
- Other expected panelists include youth delegates from the Americas returning from the World Youth Assembly, which will take place earlier that week at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva.
NOTE: Participants will be able to watch a documentary describing the lack of safety on the roadways. The short film will also be broadcasted by a number of leading TV stations worldwide.
WHERE: At the Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037.
WHY: The first United Nations Global Road Safety Week is designed to promote action, in all the world's countries, to reduce the most common risk factors associated with serious injuries, disability, and death from automobile crashes throughout the world. Among its objectives, the initiative seeks to influence and advise institutions, leaders and decision-makers at all levels to help strengthen their commitment to making substantive policy and legal changes to improve road safety.
Dr. Eugenia María Silveira Rodrígues, PAHO regional advisor on road safety, notes that 85% of global traffic fatalities occur in middle and low income countries. Traffic fatality rates in Latin America are among the highest in the world, according to WHO/PAHO data, with 26 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2000. Worldwide, traffic accidents kill some 1.2 million people each year and cause serious injuries or disabilities in 20-50 million more. U.N. data show that traffic crashes are the second leading cause of death in young people ages 5 to 25.
RSVP: .
Additional Information
The Pan American Health Organization, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and raise the quality of life of their peoples. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of WHO.
For more information please contact , PAHO, Public Information, 202-974-3459.