Key Recent Milestones:
· Mexico: Global Actions met with the National Chamber for the Tequila Industry in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Approximately 30 members of the tequila chamber were in attendance. ICAP’s Denise Bussio gave a presentation on the WHO Global Strategy, and Global Actions Country Manager Mariana Guerra presented the drink driving project in Puebla, followed by a question and answer session.
Global Actions in Focus: Progress in Colombia
Global Actions Colombia completed phase one of the “Patrullero Project” drink driving awareness and training series in the cities of Quibdo and Chia.
A “Don’t Drink and Drive” seminar was held on November 14 and 15, 2012 in Quibdo. Mayor-In-Charge Jose Oscar Cordoba welcomed 254 participants including representatives from the Quibdó Director of External Cooperation, Office of the Mayor, the Quibdo Police Force, the Secretaries of Health, Mobility, Transit, and Education, faculty and students of the Universidad Tecnologica del Chocó, hospital administrators, and the Quibdo Job Training Authority (SENA).
Post-workshop evaluations showed a 35% increase in knowledge of Alcohol Basics, Colombian Drink Drive Laws, Traffic Statistics, and Alcohol Consumption Patterns. A follow-up meeting to plan future cooperation is set for mid-December in Quibdo.
On November 17, Chía Mayor Guillermo Varela convened a ceremony for police and transit officials to recognize those who completed phase one of Project Patrullero. Participants included Chia police officers, Chia Secretary of Mobility & Transit officials, and members of the Chía Fire and First Aid Service.
At the ceremony, Global Actions Country Manager Mario Alberto Lleras signed an Agreement of Cooperation with Chía Secretary of Mobility Daniel Santana and presented two laptop computers to aid operations at sobriety checkpoints.
“Global Actions advisors visited sobriety checkpoints in September 2012 and observed the need for license verification capability,” said Lleras. “The computers will improve efficiency and increase the number of driver inspections at future checkpoints.”
What’s Happening Next:
· Nigeria: Global Actions Nigeria will complete the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) testing of petrol tanker drivers along the Lagos-Apapa and Abuja-Lakoja roads in December 2012. This campaign is part of the drink driving initiative in Nigeria.
