Helmets for Kids programme comes to Thai Nguyen province

The AIP, a non-governmental organisation, coordinated with the Thai Nguyen Traffic Safety Committee to organise its inauguration at the province’s Hoa Thuong 1 Primary School on September 24.

With sponsorship from Johnson & Johnson, Helmets for Kids will continue in Gia Lai in the Central Highland, Yen Bai in the north and Quang Nam in the central region. A total of 5,075 helmets will be donated to 31 schools in the four provinces.

By expanding the programme to Thai Nguyen province this year, along with various teacher training workshops, the programme expresses its concern not only about helmet quality but also Vietnam’s next generation, said Trinh Thu Ha, deputy chief of the Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Traffic accidents are a global issue of public concern, she said, adding that around 1.3 million people were killed and 50 million others were injured by traffic accidents.

According to the official, in Vietnam, traffic accidents have dropped in terms of numbers of deaths, injured and cases in recent years. However, traffic accidents have continued seeing complicated developments as many people are still killed and wounded.

Tan Hoang Long, chief of the Office of the Thai Nguyen Traffic Safety Committee, said the local economy has been improving rapidly, leading to an increase in motor vehicles on the road. The consequence of more two-wheelers and cars in the area is something to be concerned about.

“We hope that "Helmets for Kids" will expand to more schools in Thai Nguyen province during the upcoming year,” he said.

Hoang Na Huong, Deputy CEO of AIP Foundation said: “Danger can appear anywhere, at any time, and child fatality rates in road crashes keep increasing. We hope to expand this meaningful project to create a safer road to school for children.”

Three orientation and teacher training workshops were held from May 18 to June 6 to provide teachers and parents with road safety instructions and correct helmet use.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Quang Trung, External Affairs Director of Johnson & Johnson Vietnam, said the project is one of the company’s contributions to the community. Johnson & Johnson expects to carry out more similar projects to ensure safety for Vietnamese children.