PHA-Exchange> New IANSA Public Health Network Announced atUN Meeting on Small Arms

[Ghassan]

 Dear Colleagues of PHA,


 It pleases me share with you this information about New International
Action Network on Small Arms Public Health Network Announced at UN Meeting
on Small Arms
 Best Regards

 Ghassan Shahrour
 Yarmouk
 Damascus - Syria
 Email 1:  afodafro at scs-net.org
 Email 2:  syria at icbl.org

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 New IANSA Public Health Network Announced at UN Meeting on Small Arms

July 16, 2005   Contact: Maria Valenti, IPPNW

New York City - Health professionals from around the globe gathered at the
United Nations in New York City at the Second Biennial Meeting of States on
the Programme of Action (UNPoA) on Small Arms to announce the formation of
the new IANSA Public Health Network. It is being coordinated by the Nobel
Peace Prize-winning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear
War (IPPNW). Network members expressed their deep concern about the human
suffering caused by the misuse of small arms.

Members of the Public Health Network addressed the General Assembly of
delegates during the NGO presentation and discussed the need to apply proven
health practices to international efforts to reduce deaths, disabilities and
injuries related to the misuse of small arms and light weapons. They called
for more involvement of health workers in government efforts to prevent
injuries and death from small arms, and promote community health.  Expanded
implementation of the UNPoA must include monitoring of all of these
conditions which are critical indicators of the toll being taken.

"We urge the international community to take immediate and concrete steps
because guns are bad for health," said Robert Mtonga MD of IPPNW/Zambia,
Medical Field Director for the new Network. Other Network members also
commented:

"We call on all member states to include health professionals in the
National Commissions, or Focal Points, on small arms established under the
UNPoA, and for these representatives to be given an active role in them,"
said Syrian physician Ghassan Shahrour MD, coordinator of the Arab Network
for Research on Landmines and ERW.

"It is our obligation as physicians and health professionals to ensure that
proper resources are allocated to provide the best health services to
people," said Emperatriz Crespin MD, IPPNW/El Salvador. "When these
resources are diverted to caring for victims of gun violence, they are not
available for important health measures, such as vaccinations, nutrition
programs, and combating deadly scourges such as HIV/AIDS," she concluded.
# # #

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) is a
Nobel Peace Prize-winning global federation of national medical
organizations in 58 countries dedicated to research, education, and advocacy
relevant to the prevention of nuclear war, and to preventing injuries and
death from firearms. IPPNW is a founding member of IANSA. The International
Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) is the global network of more than 700
civil society organisations working to stop the proliferation and misuse of
small arms and light weapons (SALW).