Armed violence: a health problem, a public health approach

Author: Valenti, M. / Ormhaug, C. M. / Mtonga, R. E. / Loretz, J.
Publication: J Public Health Policy
Topics: International Prevention Public Health
Keywords: Community Violence Zambia
Bibliographic information +

Violent death by small arms and light weapons is an international problem of significant dimensions, with, according to the authors of this study, an estimated death toll of hundreds of thousands of people a year. This article uses the work of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War in Zambia to reduce the toll of death by small arms and light weapons as an example of the public health approach to violence prevention advocated by WHO since 1996. A public information campaign in Zambia led first to enactment of laws prohibiting antipersonnel landmines and then to an establishment of a national commission on small arms and light weapons. The national commission has committed to a public health approach to violence prevention including ongoing data collection.