Aiming for Prevention News

Aiming for Prevention activists present numerous papers at the 9th World Conference on Violence Prevention and Safety Promotion

March 2008
Merida, Mexico

IPPNW members from six countries presented thirteen papers and posters on violence prevention and public health at this year's 9th World Conference on Violence Prevention and Safety Promotion (otherwise known as Safety 2008) held in Merida, Mexico. Attendees also participated in meetings organized by regional departments of the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO Violence Prevention Alliance of which IPPNW is a member, and the International Society for Violence and Injury Prevention. The delegates spread the message that "Guns are Bad for Health," continued our discussions with the Small Arms Survey regarding future projects, and released a press release with IANSA in which IPPNW co-president Dr. Ime John called for more international donor investment in violence prevention.

A special section of Medicine, Conflict and Survival edited by Medacts' Dr. Jack Piachaud will be developed based on several of the IPPNW papers presented at Safety 2008.

Healing the Wounds of War in Africa

September 7-, 2007
Nairobi, Kenya

IPPNW delegates from Africa, Europe and Australia attended the IPPNW 6th African Regional Meeting Healing the Wounds of War in Africa – The Role of Health Professionals in Nairobi, Kenya 7-9th September, 2007. The event was organized by the African regional office led by IPPNW African Regional Vice President from Kenya Dr. Walter Odhiambo. IPPNW Co-president from Nigeria Dr. Ime John opened the proceedings and also presented a gift to the ‘’Gun Free Africa’’ Ambassador, Dr. Amritpal Kalsii, Miss India-Kenya beauty queen 2006/7. Presentations ranged from reports on IPPNW’s African multinational injury surveillance pilot project conducted at hospitals in Nigeria, Zambia, DR Congo, Kenya and Uganda, to those on Nuclear Issues and Africa and to Poverty and Conflict. A medical student conference was held prior to the main event.

Download a copy of the meeting program.

South Asia Students' Meet - A call from the medical community for hte prevention of small arms violence

August 28 - 29, 2007
Bhaktapur, Nepal

The student chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Nepal (PSRN) organized a two day meeting August 28-29 in Bhaktapur, a historical city of Nepal. The goal of the meeting was to address “the specter of small arms violence haunting the region.” Students from various medical and public health colleges in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Germany actively participated in the program. Presentations on issues of major concern, including a new Nepalese One Bullet Story, were interspersed with workshops. Professor Dr. Mathura Prasad Shrestha, the President of PSRN and eminent figure of civil society, inaugurated the program by highlighting a holistic approach to world peace. Dr. Rajan Suwal praised the students’ role in working for social responsibility. Dr. Mahesh Maskey, the former IPPNW South Asian Vice President and currently the Chairperson of the Nepal Health Research Council, highlighted the role of the public health approach to small arms violence prevention. Dr. Khagendra Dahal, International Medical Student Representative of IPPNW, expressed his commitment for supporting IPPNW student activities fully. Mr. Chudamani Giri, a key organizer of the event and the National Student Representative of PSRN, highlighted the program objectives. All the delegates were warmly welcomed by a Nepali cultural performance.

Download a report from the Indian organizers here and from the Bangladeshi students here.


PHOTO: C.GIRI

IPPNW-Nigeria's leaders attend conference on securing peace and security in West Africa

July 26 - 27, 2007
Abuja, Nigeria

Leaders of IPPNW Nigeria, Dr. Ime John (On left: IPPNW co-president) and Emmanuel Eduru (on far right), participated recently in a two-day regional conference in Abuja, Nigeria, on the ratification of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials.

The conference was organized by the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The agenda was to develop strategies for lobbying the various governments of ECOWAS (15 West African states) to ratify the convention that was signed by regional leaders in June 2006. It was reported by the allAfrica.com press that Nigerian Inspector-General of Police (IG) Mike Okiro said that the major challenge facing peace and security in the West African Sub-region is the constant proliferation of small arms. According to Mr. Eduru, representatives from the Nigerian Parliament in attendance gave their word that once the ratification bill is brought to the Parliament they will not hesitate to pass it into law.

Taking advantage of their participation at the WAANSA meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian Action Network on Small Arms (NANSA) held a crucial side meeting to discuss and chart a new way forward to enable the network to be more efficient and effective. The meeting was attended by 21 members and was facilitated by IPPNW's Dr. Ime John.

The final report from the June 14th ECOWAS meeting is available on IANSA's website.
The program from the July WAANSA conference is available here.

PHOTO: DR. EMMANUEL EDURU

2007 Global Week of Action: research, dialogue, workshops and creating a future generation of advocates for gun violence prevention

June 21-29, 2007
National University
El Salvador

Dr. Emperatriz Crespin brought together students at the National University of El Salvador for a week long workshop on how medical professionals can incorporate advocacy as a tool for gun violence prevention in their field. The students included physiotherapists, nurses, and anaesthesiologists and the framework of the workshop was endorsed by PAHO, National University and the IANSA/IPPNW Public Health Network.

PHOTO: EMPERATRIZ CRESPIN

"I play without arms"; using soccer to launch 2007 Global Week of Action in El Salvador

June 11-17, 2007
El Salvador

Every year, the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence prompts activists to raise awareness, campaign for better gun laws and push for stronger regulation of the global arms trade. In El Salvador, members of Aiming for Prevention participated in several events for the public and specific events for health professionals. Dr. Andrew Pinto from IPPNW's Canadian affiliate, Physicians for Global Survival (PGS) joined local doctor, Emperatriz Crespin and gave lectures at Evangelica University on small arms and light weapons and the impact on health. Two local radio stations (VOX FM and Radio Que Buena) and IANSA/IPPNW held a soccer game at Gambeta Stadium in San Salvador to raise awareness on the impact of gun violence on Salvadorans. In the photo above, Ademar Guardado is seen in a soccer uniform that reads "Yo juego sin armas" (I play without arms) next to Dr. Andrew Pinto.

PHOTO: ADEMAR GUARDADO

Student Activists in Latin America Speaking Out

October 2006
At the National University of El Salvador

Medical students from El Salvador organized and participated with peers from nicaragua in a lively and informative four-day Latin American Medical Student Congress at the National University of El Salvador. Featured speakers included representatives from PAHO, the Ministry of Health, Oxfam and IANSA. IPPNW/Mexico's Dr. Jans-Fromow Guerra and IPPNW's Aiming for Prevention program coordinator, Maria Valenti, also gave presentations at the Student Congress.


VIEW PHOTOS FROM CO-ORGANIZER, ADEMAR GUARDADO

IPPNW medical students speak with British consulate officials in Nigeria

2006
Kano, Nigeria

IPPNW students from the Bayero University Medical School in Nigeria paid a visit to the British Consulate and the Consul library at Kano, Nigeria. Highlights of the visits included presenting materials and books on Aiming for Prevention and small arms violence to the Consul. The Consul invited the students to the monthly NGO's forum meeting at the council's peace club. IPPNW students were also invited to participate in the preparations for the celebration of this year's UNESCO peace day at the council.

Photo: Medical student Mansur Ramalan (on right) seen here with officials of the British Consulate in Nigeria holding up One Bullet Story posters.

IPPNW and the Violence Prevention Alliance

November 2006
Geneva, Switzerland

IPPNW Co-Presidents, Drs. Ime John (left) and Gunnar Westberg (second from left) meet with WHO Violence Prevention Alliance Medical Director Dr. David Meddings (second from right) and Director Dr. Alex Butchart (far right) in Geneva to discuss IPPNW's role in the global network.

IPPNW Raises a Public Health Voice and Highlights the Human Face of Suffering at the United Nations Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons

June / July 2006
New York City

IPPNW leaders Drs. Robert Mtonga, Zambia, Dra. Emperatriz Crespin, El Salvador, Christin Ormhaug, Norway, Nic Marsh, Norway (also a member of the official Norwegian delegation), Dr. Ilkka Taipale, Finland (also a member of the official Finland delegation), and Maria Valenti, Central Office "Aiming for Prevention" program coordinator, actively participated at the UN Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RevCon) in New York City, June 2006. They attended to ensure that the health aspects of gun violence are considered during the UN PoA deliberations and in the finalization of the official outcome document of the Review Conference, and also to represent the leadership of the International Action Network on Small Arms' (IANSA) Public Health Network that is coordinated by IPPNW. Action-oriented research, called for in the UN PoA, was a central theme of their discussions with delegates and attendees.

IPPNW's "Aiming for Prevention" program emphasizes a public health approach to armed violence, and has been instrumental in highlighting the human face of suffering via our "One Bullet Stories" originally developed several years ago Dr. Walter Odhiambo and other leaders of IPPNW Kenya. New campaign materials that illustrate how "Every Bullet Tells a Story of Injury and Suffering" that were distributed at the RevCon can be found on the IPPNW web site: Small Arms Materials.

Conference highlights continued here, click to see a PDF of the full report.

E-MESARES and the Global Week of Action Against Small Arms: A million faces, one message

May 22 - 29, 2006
El Salvador

IPPNW's student affiliate in El Salvador, E-MESARES, led by Emperatriz Crespin MD, MPH, conducted a series of events to raise awareness about the health effects of armed violence during the International Action Network on Small Arms' (IANSA) recent Global Week of Action Against Small Arms in late May.

Events included the following:

• Dr. Crespin, who is also the Latin American director for the IANSA Public Health Network coordinated by IPPNW, addressed over 100 medical students at the National University of El Salvador about how public helath measures can help prevent armed violence, the need for gunshot survivor assistance, and the costs of armed violence in the region, including the impact on development;
• Student leaders met with members of the El Salvador National Congress to advocate for more legislative controls of small arms to prevent violence;
• Students held an aikido event at the university to collect faces for the global Million Faces Campaign Against Small Arms Violence, being organized by the Control Arms group to support a global arms trade treaty. Aikido is a discipline dedicated to non-violence. The Million Faces petition will be delivered to government delegates at the upcoming UN Programme of Action on Small Arms Review Conference in New York City June/July 2006.

IPPNW affiliate members present compelling research at major international public health conference on injury prevention

March 31 - April 1, 2006 [preconference]
April 2 - 5, 2006 [main conference]
Durban, South Africa

Twenty-two affiliate member physicians and medical students from eleven countries contributed to the strong medical presence at the 8th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, "Data to Action," in Durban, South Africa. A detailed report from the pre and main conference are available. Reports and abstracts presented by IPPNW affiliate member physicians are available here.

VIEW PRECONFERENCE PHOTOS
VIEW MAIN CONFERENCE PHOTOS

Physicians and medical students participate in training for 6-country pilot study on firearm injuries

March 27-30, 2006
Nairobi, Kenya

A training program was held in March in Nairobi, Kenya for physicians from five African countries who are participating in an IPPNW sponsored multinational hospital-based research pilot study on injury due to firearm violence.

13 representatives from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo attended the 3 1/2 day training in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Diego Zavala of Puerto Rico conducted the hospital-based training and Dr. Walther Odhiambo coordinated the field test of the data collection at the Kenyatta Hospital. A more detailed report and the training agenda can be viewed here.

VIEW PHOTOS

IANSA Public Health Network and IPPNW activists raise the issue that "guns are bad for health" at the United Nations

January 9-20, 2006
PrepCom to the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons

Highlights of IPPNW and IANSA PHN activities include:

• A special session on the Public Health Network attended by 35 conference delegates, UN representatives, and NGOs.


• Development of a position paper on health and the UNPoA that outlines specific actions that States can take to incorporate health education, research and advocacy into National Action Plans.


• The public health message was included in the Mexican delegate presentation at a thematic discussion session and prompted a range of health related comments from other states.


• Dissemination of information to delegates and other NGOs on why public health is an important approach to mitigating the armed violence crisis.

The PrepCom leads up to the UNPoA Review Conference scheduled for the end of June/early July 2006. For more information, please contact IPPNW Aiming for Prevention Coordinator, Maria Valenti, mvalenti@ippnw.org. IPPNW and the IANSA Public Health Network thank in particular the Foreign Affairs Canada for support for these activities.

Photo: IANSA Public Health Network Medical Director Dr. Robert Mtonga, IANSA board member Dr. Kathy Kaufer Christoffel, WHO Programme Officer Khadija Rejto, IPPNW's Dr. Emperatriz Crespin

VIEW PHOTOS (JAN 2006)
VIEW PHOTOS (JULY 2005)
READ PRESS RELEASE ON PHN (JULY 2005)
READ BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES CONFERENCE SUMMARY

Washington DC: Dr. Ruku Bhileni special guest on international broadcast, "Straight Talk Africa"

Washingon, DC
May 2005

Dr. Ruku Bhileni of Congolese Physicians for Peace appeared on the Washington, DC-based Voice of America's "Straight Talk Africa" radio program that is broadcast and web-cast worldwide, relating the history of IPPNW, its goals, and campaigns to promote peace through health, particularly through our "Aiming for Prevention" program. He appeared with the Senegalese Foreign Minister, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, to discuss how to overcome the challenges of development in Africa. Dr. Bhileni was in the US on scholarship at a conference organized by the Landmine Survivor's Network

Pictured from left to right: Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, "Straight Talk Africa" host, Shaka Ssali and Dr, Ruku Bhileni of IPPNW/DR Congo.

Nairobi, Kenya: members from six IPPNW affiliates attended the Control Arms conference: "Action for Arms Control in a World Awash with Weapons"

April 2005

They brought IPPNW's Aiming for Prevention message to over 200 delegates from around the world gathered to strategize on preventing small arms violence. The conference was sponsored by the Control Arms Campaign of Amnesty International, Oxfam, and IANSA. Our affiliates raised the profile of the new IANSA Public Health Network coordinated by IPPNW, with Dr. Robert Mtonga of IPPNW/Zambia as the Medical Field Director. They conducted a session on the need for a public health approach to small arms violence. Dr. Walter Odhiambo of host affialiate IPPNW/Kenya, in another session, presented the human face of suffering via the innovative One Bullet Story developed by IPPNW/Kenya.

Pictured: IPPNW affiliate leaders and colleagues at the Control Arms conference in Nairobi, Kenya: Dr. Walter Odhiambo, IPPNW/Kenya, Dr. Emperatriz Crespin, IPPNW/El Salvador, Khuleni Xoma of ISS South Africa, Dr. Ime John, IPPNW/Nigeria, Patrick of Niger Delta Project, Nigeria, Angela, MSR Kenya, Dr. Robert Mtonga, IPPNW/Zambia. Not pictured but in attendance: Drs. Simon Bokongo and Ruku Bhileni of IPPNW/DR Congo.

El Salvador: Small arms coalition persuades President to review gun laws

February 4, 2005
(www.iansa.org)

Members of the Society without Violence Coalition in El Salvador, which was co-organized by IPPNW's El Salvador affiliate Médicos Salvadoreños para la Responsabilidad Social (MESARES), have persuaded President Elias Antonio Saca to create a National Commission to review the gun laws and to incorporate representatives from the coalition. The Commission will recommend improvements to a proposed new gun law.

The coalition presented research on injuries caused by firearms that was compiled by MESARES from hospital records and interviews, that details the cost to the national public health system of small arms violence - that treatment of gunshot wounds uses up more than 7% of the public hospital system's budget.

MESARES will present this report, which includes an extensive profile of the causes and effects of weapons use, at a public meeting on March 3 that includes speakers from the United Nations Development Program, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and Fundación para el Estudio y Aplicacion del Derecho (FESPAD), an El Salvador legal group.

Other members of the Society Without Violence include the Instituto Universitario de Opinión Pública (IUDOP), the Technology University, Radio station UPA, the Tin Marin Children's Museum and the UN Development Program (UNDP).