Day One: World Safety Conference

"Safe and equitable communities are possible if we work together across sectors," says Zsuzsanna Jakab, the European Regional Director of World Health Organization(WHO), during the opening ceremony of the World Safety conference on the 21st of September, 2010 in London, United Kingdom.She further stated that the developing and the deprived communities of the world suffer the most because of inequalities that are reflected in poor political will to support safety.

Besides Jakab's keynote address, other stakeholders spoke on Injury Prevention and the social determinants,violence,road traffic injuries and death.

The four-day conference which started today is another milestone in health and safety work around the world.Speaking on the inequalities within and between country as a social determinant of injuries and health public health problem, Sir Micheal Marmott of the department of Epidermiology and Public Health, University College , London explained that the gap within and between countries reflecting in inequalities of gender and income must be close before we can achieve a healthy and safe environment.

He added that , the violence against women is spreading because of the lack of education.According to him, women with no education at all fall victims of sexual violence majorly, while women with secondary education fall victims the more
when compared to women with higher education."Health inequalities will diminish if other sectors of government will improve on their policies and implementations."says Marmott.

Describing the Centre for Disease Control's prevention priorities in the United States,Dr. Ileane Arias identified Motor Vehicle Safety, Child Maltreatment prevention and Trauma care system development as the major health and safety issues in the US. She mentioned leadership provision and technical assistance, collaboration with partners and disseminations and eliminating effects as the keys to their success in achieving Child passenger safety( Education and distribution of car seats),Use of Seatbelts ( Seatbelt belt law, primary enforcement low and enhanced enforcement program).

In all of these, I would say the World Safety Conference has started on a positive note.When a conference chooses to address issues that concern children, youths, women and the elderly in the society, the communique that will be issued will definitely be a change activating one.

LET US COME TOGETHER TO EMPOWER OUR GIRLS AND WOMEN, EDUCATION IS A TOOL.