WHO Cooperation at Child Injury Prevention in the Czech Republic CEEC ISEE, November 2007 Alena Steflova, M.D., PhD. WHO Country Office in the Czech Republic

WHO facts and figures Each year nearly 1.2 million people die and millions more are injured or disabled as result of road traffic accidentsEach year nearly 1.2 million people die and millions more are injured or disabled as result of road traffic accidents Every day over 1000 young people under the age of 25 years are killed in road traffic crashes around the worldEvery day over 1000 young people under the age of 25 years are killed in road traffic crashes around the world Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of deaths globally among 15-19years-oldsRoad traffic injuries are the leading cause of deaths globally among 15-19years-olds

Situation in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic counts among countries with the high injury mortality and morbidity level.The Czech Republic counts among countries with the high injury mortality and morbidity level. Injuries are still the third most common cause of death in the population and the leading cause of death of children and youth.Injuries are still the third most common cause of death in the population and the leading cause of death of children and youth.

There were 1270 deaths from road traffic injuries in 2003; 951 in males and 319 in females Peak in death rates for young people age and also older people over 75 years but the greatest proportion of deaths is in young people

Road Traffic Accidents – Trends

Child Injury Prevention in the Past Existence of many activities, but these activities were not systematic coordinated, not inter sectorial linked and thus not effective enough. Main weak points: Many bodies involved Lack of coordination Lack of cooperation

WHO Strategies EUR/RC55/R9 resolution Addopted in 2005 Urges Member States: To give high priority to the prevention of violence and unintentional injury by developing national action plans that are coordinated with other relevant existing action plans Adopting a public health approach that promotes multisectoral action in which the health sector plays a coordinating role

Implementation of Biennial Collaborative Agreement between the MoH and WHO for Europe Reviewed Czech policies for child road traffic injuries prevention and recommendation to promote inter sectoral approached developed Reviewed Czech policies for child road traffic injuries prevention and recommendation to promote inter sectoral approached developed Review and evaluate existing child traffic injury prevention projects and programms both on national and local levels Review and evaluate existing child traffic injury prevention projects and programms both on national and local levels

BCA Outputs Development of recommended inter sectoral approach based on co-operation and co- ordination via Injury Prevention Board Development of recommended inter sectoral approach based on co-operation and co- ordination via Injury Prevention Board Development of a National Child Injury Prevention Plan – already ratificated by the Government of the Czech Republic (June 2007) Development of a National Child Injury Prevention Plan – already ratificated by the Government of the Czech Republic (June 2007)

Injury Prevention Board Members Ministry of Health - leading role Ministry of Health - leading role Ministry of Transport Ministry of Transport Ministry of Interior Ministry of Interior Ministry of Education, Youth and Physical Education Ministry of Education, Youth and Physical Education Research institutions both transport and medical Universities Research institutions both transport and medical Universities National Network of Healty Cities National Network of Healty Cities Safe Communities Safe Communities National Network of Health Promoting Schools National Network of Health Promoting Schools WHO Country Office in the Czech Republic WHO Country Office in the Czech Republic

Benefits of WHO communities´programmes Communities programmes expanded in the Czech Republic quickly using tried and tested approaches and measures Communities programmes expanded in the Czech Republic quickly using tried and tested approaches and measures Working under the WHO umbrella of an acknowledged international authority with its principles and recommendations Working under the WHO umbrella of an acknowledged international authority with its principles and recommendations Networking, exchange of experience in CZ and abroad and co-operation with expert partners in CZ and abroad Networking, exchange of experience in CZ and abroad and co-operation with expert partners in CZ and abroad HCCZ becomes the important and valuable partner for individual ministries as well as other central public sector institutions ( health, transport,environment, etc) related to various topics HCCZ becomes the important and valuable partner for individual ministries as well as other central public sector institutions ( health, transport,environment, etc) related to various topics

members (cities, municipalities, regions, subregions) – 25% of inhabitans of the CR. Healthy Cities, municipalities, regions 1994

Common activities of the Board Country visits of WHO experts Country visits of WHO experts Seminars for injury prevention and road safety practitioners on local and regional levelSeminars for injury prevention and road safety practitioners on local and regional level Seminars in the Parliament of the Czech Republic for politiciansSeminars in the Parliament of the Czech Republic for politicians Following press conferencesFollowing press conferences National Injury Free Days 2005, 2006,2007 National Injury Free Days 2005, 2006,2007 ( campaigns on the beginning of June) ( campaigns on the beginning of June) National wide implementation of selected best practices : National wide implementation of selected best practices : Safe Route to School Cycle Helmets Projects Safe Route to School Cycle Helmets Projects ( via leaflet dissemination to all municipalities in the country with recommended good practices) ( via leaflet dissemination to all municipalities in the country with recommended good practices)

© NSZM ČR15 Healthy cities, municipalities and regions Campaigns

Conclusions Injury prevention and safety promotion programmes and national policy has been developed through the seed funded BCA activities Lessons learnt: Subsuming safety into existing projects increase efficiency Cooperation can be increased by sharing knowledge, methodologies, best practices and common vision Effecive dissemination and public awarenes raising was achieved through intersectoral collaboration

Thank you for your attention.