The AIP Foundation has published a progress report on its Helmets for Kids Program.

The program, that involves school-based educational campaigns and helmet distribution programming in primary schools, has reported an increase in the average helmet wearing rate from 40.6 percent to 82.2 percent at four schools in Nha Be district that are new to the program.

This year the program has included the coordination of meetings between health professionals from head injury departments and parents and teachers from the four new program schools.

The schools were selected based on the road environment of the school, the economic need of the community, and low helmet wearing rates among the community.

Parents and teachers met with health professionals at Cho Ray Hospital and visited road crash victims who have suffered from brain injuries.

Their discussions with Doctor Tran Quang Vinh, Head of Neuro-Resuscitation, and Doctor Huynh Le Phuong, Head of Neurosurgery, on the consequences of road crashes and on the causes of brain injury are part of a video that will be shown to all future target program school teachers and parents.

The AIP said the results, from January to June, demonstrated the importance of incorporating numerous approaches to address public health crises, from helmet distributions to conversations between medical professionals and community members.