On Tuesday May 24, 2011, the 64th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a resolution on child injury prevention. The resolution, prompted by the WHO/UNICEF World report on child injury prevention, provides a platform to support action on preventing child injuries, which are the leading cause of death for children over the age of 5 years.
The adoption of this historic resolution by the World Health Assembly is a landmark accomplishment, as it firmly frames child injury as a major child survival issue and highlights the need to expand child survival programming and financing streams to include child injury prevention.
On Tuesday May 24, 2011, the 64th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a resolution on child injury prevention. The resolution, prompted by the WHO/UNICEF World report on child injury prevention, provides a platform to support action on preventing child injuries, which are the leading cause of death for children over the age of 5 years.
The adoption of this historic resolution by the World Health Assembly is a landmark accomplishment, as it firmly frames child injury as a major child survival issue and highlights the need to expand child survival programming and financing streams to include child injury prevention.
The resolution urges Member States to prioritize the prevention of child injuries; implement the recommendations of the World report on child injury prevention; and develop and put into practice a multi-sectoral policy and plan of action with realistic targets.
ILS members are urged to engage with their national governments in support of this resolution and to advocate for a focus on the drowning prevention issues that impact children in the communities of their nations. A targeted letter in support, addressed to each countries WHA representative will do much for this global issue, and provide an important point to advocate local issues.
Members in those countries which are donors to child survival programs in low and middle income countries are encouraged to reinforce the need for such programs to focus on the identification of child drowning issues, and prioritisation of interventions aimed to reducing the risks on children and
ILS Members are reminded that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) for its role and expertise in global drowning prevention and granted ILS “WHO Official Relations status at its Executive Board meeting January 23, 2010.
Those who attended the World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Vietnam will have met one of the key architects of this resolution. At the ILS event Dr David Meddings spoke to the important role of collaboration, evidence and strong strategic platforms as a basis for driving greater levels of recognition for the drowning issue and prompting coordinated action.
The WHA child injury resolution, and the ILS/WHO official relations provides a solid basis for further efforts to reduce the global burden of drowning and supports ILS members in advocating for strong and effective drowning prevention policy and plans in each of their nations.
Justin Scarr
ILS Drowning Prevention Commissioner
Related links:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2011/world_health_assembly_20110524/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/child/injury/world_report/en/index.html