Developing a Child Safety Action Plan in Portugal

1. Developing a Child Safety Action Plan in Portugal Elsa Rocha

2. PORTUGAL Land area: 91 950 sq km Population: 10 360 000 ( 16,8% < 15 years old) Member of EU since 1986

3. Portugal Injury death rate in children 8,95 ‰ Injury death for children (0-14 years) in EU (Source: WHO - 1996-2000)

4. Portugal STARTING POINT 1 - Injuries are the leading cause of child death and disability. Injury death rate in children 8,95 ‰ 2 – No governmental department responsible for national coordination of child safety activities 3 – No governmental led national injury prevention strategy except for road activities 4 – APSI is the only NGO aiming at controlling childhood accidents and injuries through the promotion of safety

5. Portugal • CHALLENGE • Engaging government and non government stakeholders from multiple sectors on a shared ownership for CSAP • Commitment • Financial support • Promoting cross ministerial work • Promoting partnerships with NGOs

6. Portugal OPPORTUNITIES CSAP could be a direct deliverable for: 1 – National Health Plan (Injury Prevention contributing to health gains) 2 – Child Environment And Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) - WHO discussing countries progress around RPGII

7. Portugal ACHIEVEMENTS CSAP was integrated into a broader strategy of the Ministry of Health - National Injury Prevention Programme for the execution of the National Health Plan

8. Portugal ROAD MAP FOR ACTION

9. Portugal National Health Plan 2004 - 2010 Guiding principles with which institutions within Ministry of Health and other activity sectors can contribute to achievement of Health Gains aiming promotion of health and prevention of disease. Coordinated by High Comissariat of Health.

10. Portugal National Health Plan Stages of Development Stage I – Definition of Plan Structure Stage II – Lauching of Plan Stage III – Monitoring the accomplishment

11. Portugal Action for CSAP: • Injury prevention elected as a priority area of NHP (2004) • A National Plan for Injury Prevention adressing all ages is under development by Directorate General of Health and CSAP was recognized as a positive input for NHP(2005) • Partnership of APSI with Directorate General of Health with financial support for CSAP (2006)

12. Portugal Action for CSAP: • Injury Database starting as pilot in Algarve (south of Portugal) – November 2006 • National and local meetings with multisectoral partners and a cross ministerial Committee for CSAP planed for November 2006

13. Portugal • CSAP deliverables so far • Injury Prevention into the political agenda • Assessement of leadership, infrastructure, capacity and current policy to support injury prevention as a starting point • Directory of child safety practitioners and researchers web-based • Child Safety Good Practice Guide – including portuguese examples

14. Portugal • Anticipate Outcomes • National aggregation and harmonization of data on injuries - Injury database (IDB) • Portugese Child Safety Action Plan • Multisectorial - network • Shared ownership • Reduce child injuries - Portugal safer for children

15. www.apsi.org.pt