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Phnom Penh, 6 May 2010 – AIP Foundation in co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior, the National Road Safety Committee and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports announced today the launch of the Helmet Vaccine Coalition Cambodia and its “One Helmet. One Life.” helmet use campaign. Co-funded by the Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative (GHVI), ANZ Royal Bank (Cambodia) Ltd. and Total Cambodge, the Helmet Vaccine Coalition Cambodia will implement public awareness campaigns and school-based programs to reduce traumatic brain injury and fatalities from road traffic crashes.

The “One Helmet. One Life.” campaign marks the pioneer project for the Helmet Vaccine Coalition Cambodia, featuring a television drama called “Regrets” about the tragic consequences felt by a family living in Phnom Penh after a traffic accident. It also includes advertisements at Total’s 32 service stations nationwide and ANZ Royal Bank’s 126 ATM machines throughout the country; as well as advertisement panels on the back of Tuk-Tuks (3-wheeler motorcycle taxi) in Phnom Penh. “Regrets” will air from 12 May on TV3, every Wednesday from 7.30 – 8.30pm, and every Friday from 10.30 – 11.30pm.

Highlight of the launch event was the donation of 2,050 Protec “tropical” helmets to students and teachers of Toul Tum Phong and Bak Touk Primary Schools in Phnom Penh - generously co-sponsored by ANZ Royal Bank and Infinity Insurance.  A Tuk-Tuk and motorcycle parade through the city of Phnom Penh followed the event.

“Cambodia faces one of the highest fatality rates of road traffic crashes in the Southeast Asian region and motorization rates are rising every year. We strongly support the Helmet Vaccine Coalition Cambodia, and its mission to increase helmet use when on a motorbike. Road traffic crashes are a major cause of death and injury in Cambodia, but it doesn’t have to be this way. We will support the Coalition to change this.” said H.E. Mr. Im Sithy, Minister of Education, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Interior.

View the event's gallery here