Scotland supports World Health Day

With more than 1.2m people killed on roads across the globe annually, and millions more seriously injured, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has agreed for the first time to devote a World Health Day specifically to road safety.

In 1998, road traffic accidents were the ninth leading cause of death (from disease or injury) worldwide. By 2020 it is predicted that RTAs will rise to third place.

WHO’s main objectives for World Health Day – which is themed ‘road safety Is no accident' - are:

• To raise awareness of the health impact, social and economic costs of RTAs
  
• To highlight the particular vulnerability of certain groups of road users
  
• To issue a call for action to increase efforts to prevent RTAs

In Scotland, RTAs remain the main cause of accidental death among under 45s. In 2002 there were 19,248 people injured on Scotland's roads. Of this number, 2,745 were child casualties – and of these, 525 were killed or seriously injured.

To highlight Scotland's commitment to World Health Day (WHD) a baton will be passed around Scotland's local authorities. Inside the baton will be a document stating a commitment to supporting World Health Day, and each local authority will be asked to sign this. The baton will finish its journey at the launch of WHD at Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow on 7 April. The document will then be signed by the minister for transport, the chief medical officer and a representative of the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland.

The event falls when most schools in Scotland are on holiday. "To ensure that schools can still participate we are running a national competition for both primary and secondary schools during the run-up to WHD," says Anne Diack, assistant director, Scottish Road Safety Campaign. "Every school will receive a leaflet (see pic) giving them information about the event, relevant activities and the opportunity to enter a competition.

"The competition invites school pupils to write a poem, rap or limerick based on the WHD theme," Anne Diack adds. "The winning pupils will receive vouchers for themselves and their school, and will also be invited to attend the ministerial launch of the event."

For further information go to, http://www.srsc.org.uk/worldhealthday.asp