Media Alert: World Health Organization's Global Campaign for Violence Prevention

For the first time, the series of Milestones in a Global Campaign for Violence Prevention Meetings will be hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Western Cape Government Health at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 6 to 7 September 2011. The fifth Milestones Meeting will convene leading public health experts from around the world to share the latest scientific knowledge on preventing violence-related death and disability.

Globally, violence takes the lives of more than 1.5 million people annually. Of those killed by violence, just over 50% die by their own hand, over 35% from injuries inflicted intentionally by another person, and over 12% as a direct result of war or some other form of conflict. For each single death due to violence, there are dozens of hospitalisations, hundreds of emergency department visits, and thousands of doctors' appointments. Violence places a massive burden on national economies, costing countries billions each year in health care, law enforcement and lost productivity.

The World Health Organization, together with the Western Cape Government Health, invites editors and journalist to attend the first Violence Prevention Meeting in Africa from 6 to 7 September. Please acknowledge if you will be sending a journalist and photographer.

Date: Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 and 7 September 2011
Time: 09:00 to 17:00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)