Belize Hosts National Road Safety Forum April 23 2007

Belize City, April 23 2007 -The Ministry of Health, Local Government, Transport and Communications, in collaboration with the newly established National Road Traffic Safety Committee, and with technical support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), organized a National Road Safety Forum on April 23 2007, at the Princess Hotel, Belize City, under the theme "Road Safety is No Accident".

The objectives of the Forum were to raise awareness of the magnitude of road traffic injuries in Belize and to promote a multi-sectoral action to bring about change.

Multi-sectoral approach	Sir Colville Young, Governor General of Belize

Several presentations were made by the Ministries of Health, Education, Works, and Home Affairs, in addition to presentation of the Governor General of Belize as the Patron for Road Safety.

Signing of MOU

During this forum, the National Five Year Strategy to address road safety was launched, targeting young road users, the population most at risk. This plan which focuses on policy, advocacy and surveillance, was officially signed through a Memorandum of Understanding among representatives of the respective Ministries. The PAHO/WHO Representative pledged the Organization's continuing technical cooperation in the implementation of the Strategy.