APL-NOL Vietnam Gives Helmets To Vietnamese Students For Seven Consecutive Years

Ho Chi Minh City, 23 January 2007 - On the occasion of the New Year, APL-NOL Vietnam presents 2,200 safety helmets to students and teachers of Hong Ha Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Thanh district. This is the seventh year that APL-NOL Vietnam has supported Helmets for Kids with a total contribution of US$ 222,800.

Helmets for Kids is an initiative of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIPF), a non profit organization dedicated to combating traffic fatalities and injuries that threaten low and middle income countries. The program is endorsed by the Vietnamese government (the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Ministry of Education and Training) which was represented at Hong Ha School by Mr Le Ngoc Diep, Chief of Primary School Education Office (HCMC DoET), Ms Pham Thi Kim Oanh, Expert of Primary Education Office (HCMC DoET) and Mr Au Duong Kim, Expert of HCMC Traffic Safety Committee.

"We know that the month of February is particularly crucial in terms of traffic safety. During the Lunar New Year Festival the number of road accidents reaches its annual peak,” said Mr Cheng Wai Keung, Chairman of Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. (NOL). “Through APL-NOL helmets donations, 9 children have already been saved from serious brain damage. By “adopting” Hong Ha School we hope to help more children take positive actions while on the roads”, Mr. Cheng Wai Keung said.

Since its first participation in 2000, APL-NOL Vietnam has donated helmets and promoted traffic safety education to 8,630 Vietnamese students nationwide under Helmets for Kids. This contribution is part of APL-NOL Vietnam’s corporate social responsibility programs such as building the Can Gio Children Palace, granting scholarships to Vietnamese needy students, and joining the Singapore National Day Charity Contribution.

"Insisting that children use helmets on motorbikes and bicycles – even in the city - is critical. Wearing a helmet reduces the chance of death or brain injury by 70-80%”, said Mr. Greig Craft, President and Founder of AIPF.

Media inquiries
Paul Barrett
Director Corporate Communications
Neptune Orient Lines (NOL)
Telephone: +65 6371 7959
Facsimile: +65 6275 8131
paul_barrett@nol.com.sg

Huynh Thanh Truc
Program Coordinator
Asia Injury Prevention Foundation
Telephone: +84 (0)8- 29081 22
Mobile: 0918 249 224
truc.huynh@aipf-vietnam.org