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It’s a great pleasure to be here, formally joining forces with AIPF to protect children and youth on Viet Nam’s roads.
When it comes to Viet Nam’s roads, what children and young people want and deserve is safety.
And as adults, it’s our job to step up and protect them.
Sadly, despite progress, road traffic injuries remain a serious threat to children and young people in Viet Nam.
Every day of the year, 5 families in Viet Nam lose a child or young person to a road crash. Many more survivors suffer injuries that can lead to disability.
The toll is too high for families, communities and society.
Viet Nam is not alone in this.
Around the world, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years.
Half of the 1.19 million people killed every year in the world’s roads are vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Road traffic crashes hamper growth too – around the world, crashes are estimated to cost 3% of countries’ gross domestic product.
So, I am delighted that we can bring WHO’s technical expertise, as the lead agency for road safety in the United Nations, together with AIP Foundation’s experience in community-based road safety initiatives.
United, and with the support of other partners, we will support the Government of Viet Nam to scale up effective, evidence-based solutions that protect children and youth on the road.
Our collaboration aims to support the Government’s National Road Safety Strategy and targets for reducing traffic-related injuries and deaths.
Together, our focus is on long-term impact – creating greater safety for every child and young person in Viet Nam as we work towards zero deaths on the road.
Xin cảm ơn.