Newsroom

Australia funds new AIP Foundation campaign

Hanoi, January 8, 2009 - Australia will contribute more than VND 1.7 billion (approximately AUD150,000) in 2009 to the Helmet Wearing Public Awareness Campaign of the AIP Foundation (Asia Injury Prevention Foundation).

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Allaster Cox, announced the support today when he joined an Australian Parliamentary Delegation visiting the AIP Foundation’s non-profit Protec Helmet Factory in Soc Son, Ha Noi.

“Australia welcomes the decision by the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Vietnam Helmet Wearing Coalition (VHWC) to commence a new Child Helmet Wearing Public Awareness Campaign in January 2009,” Ambassador Cox said.

“Our support for this activity is closely aligned with the Australian Government’s disability-inclusive aid strategy, ‘Development for All’, launched in November last year,” he said. “Protecting children is protecting the nation’s future. We hope the Government of Vietnam will consider a revision of the current regulations so that child helmet use will also be compulsory in Vietnam.

Protec's Managing Director, Hoang Na Huong said: "We are honored to receive the Australian delegation today. This helmet campaign has raised people's awareness of wearing helmets and putting helmets on their children. At Protec, we produce certified, quality helmets that people can trust to keep them and their family safe. A visit to the Protec production line helps visitors understand how to identify and why to choose a certified, quality helmet. Protec welcomes any individual or organisation that would like to learn about helmet making, safety education and training to provide better service for our community".

In the financial year 2006-07, AusAID contributed more than VND 2 billion (AUD176,000) to a National Helmet Wearing Campaign implemented by the AIP Foundation and the Vietnam National Traffic Safety Committee. AIP Foundation funds the production of low-cost, high-quality motorcycle helmets and its work is closely linked to Vietnam’s mandatory helmet law which became effective in 2007. As a result of the new law, adult helmet wearing has increased from 3 per cent to 95 per cent and more than 1,000 lives were saved in one year.