The One Bullet StoryThe One Bullet Story

A project of:A project of:

Aiming for Prevention:Aiming for Prevention:An IPPNW Campaign on the An IPPNW Campaign on the

Public Health Consequences of Small ArmsPublic Health Consequences of Small Arms

IPPNWIPPNW

66-70 Union Square, #20466-70 Union Square, #204

Somerville, Massachusetts, 02143 USASomerville, Massachusetts, 02143 USA

www.ippnw.orgwww.ippnw.org

Project Design: IPPNW-Kenya, Walter Odhiambo M.D., & IPPNW Central OfficeProject Design: IPPNW-Kenya, Walter Odhiambo M.D., & IPPNW Central Office

The Human Face of The Human Face of Small Arms ViolenceSmall Arms Violence

The costs of The costs of injuries are injuries are highhigh

MedicalMedical

PsychologicalPsychological

SocialSocial

CommunityCommunity

EconomicEconomic

Focus on:Focus on:

IPPNW IPPNW

KenyaKenya

Authors: Authors:

Dr. Walter Odhiambo, Prof. Symon Guthua, Dr. Walter Odhiambo, Prof. Symon Guthua, and Paul Saokeand Paul Saoke

We present the story of a We present the story of a 17-year old Congolese boy 17-year old Congolese boy

referred to Nairobi referred to Nairobi University Hospital for University Hospital for surgical treatment and surgical treatment and

management of a gunshot management of a gunshot injury to the face …injury to the face …

The son of a diamond prospector, he The son of a diamond prospector, he was suspected to have diamonds was suspected to have diamonds by rebel soldiers, who shot him in by rebel soldiers, who shot him in the face in anger after they failed the face in anger after they failed

to get any from him.to get any from him.

He was fortunate to receive first aid He was fortunate to receive first aid treatment, but had to travel to treatment, but had to travel to

Nairobi for proper medical care…Nairobi for proper medical care…

A journey of 3000km through Uganda by road!

It took him over one year to It took him over one year to raise the money from family raise the money from family

and friends for travel and and friends for travel and treatment.treatment.

During this period he kept his During this period he kept his mouth, which was disfigured mouth, which was disfigured by the bullet, covered with a by the bullet, covered with a handkerchief in public.handkerchief in public.

His mandible and His mandible and maxillary bones maxillary bones were shattered were shattered by the bullet.by the bullet.

An implant was An implant was required to required to replace the lost replace the lost jaw fragment.jaw fragment.

9 hours of surgery, at a cost of 9 hours of surgery, at a cost of

USD $6,000.00USD $6,000.00

Stainless steel bone plate insertedStainless steel bone plate inserted

After 9 hours of surgeryAfter 9 hours of surgery

Five days after surgeryFive days after surgery

9 Hours of theatre time 9 Hours of theatre time + 9 Hours of theatre drugs+ 9 Hours of theatre drugs+ Reconstruction plate+ Reconstruction plate+ Surgeon and nurses+ Surgeon and nurses+ Travel expenses from injury site + Travel expenses from injury site

in in DR CongoDR Congo+ Pre-admission hotel expenses+ Pre-admission hotel expenses+ Post-operative care+ Post-operative care = $6,000.00 USD= $6,000.00 USD

+ psychological & social + psychological & social costs…like post-traumatic costs…like post-traumatic stress disorder.stress disorder.

SALW injuries are a burden on SALW injuries are a burden on health care facilitieshealth care facilities

$6,000 = One Bullet Injury, or…$6,000 = One Bullet Injury, or…in Kenya...in Kenya...

$6,000 = One year of $6,000 = One year of primary education for primary education for 100 children100 children

$6,000 = Full $6,000 = Full immunizations for 250 immunizations for 250 childrenchildren

$6,000 = 1 1/2 years $6,000 = 1 1/2 years education for a education for a medical studentmedical student

$6,000 = 10 years of $6,000 = 10 years of daily ugali meal for an daily ugali meal for an average Kenyan family average Kenyan family of sixof six

……2-300,000 deaths per year as a 2-300,000 deaths per year as a result of small arms result of small arms

……900 million small 900 million small arms and light arms and light weapons are in weapons are in circulation worldwide;circulation worldwide;

... Of 49 major conflicts ... Of 49 major conflicts in the 1990s, 47 were in the 1990s, 47 were waged with small arms waged with small arms as the weapons of as the weapons of choice;choice;

……Annual global arms Annual global arms trade is estimated at trade is estimated at $70 billion dollars.$70 billion dollars.

Small Arms – Small Arms – A man-made disease!A man-made disease!

Proliferation – Armed children!Proliferation – Armed children!

Small Arms Violence is a Small Arms Violence is a Public Health CrisisPublic Health Crisis

Solutions include a Solutions include a public health approach:public health approach:

Collect dataCollect dataIdentify Risk FactorsIdentify Risk FactorsDesign interventionsDesign interventionsPrevent injuriesPrevent injuries

Smalls Arms is a Smalls Arms is a Health Crisis We Health Crisis We

Can Contain!!Can Contain!!

What Can The Medical What Can The Medical Community Do?Community Do?

Educate colleagues about Educate colleagues about public health dimensions public health dimensions of armed violenceof armed violence

Collect injury and mortality Collect injury and mortality data to use for advocacy data to use for advocacy and policy changeand policy change

Help design violence Help design violence prevention strategiesprevention strategies

Care + rehabilitation for Care + rehabilitation for victims of violencevictims of violence

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

1. Patamule Lampanya – The boy who traveled all the way from DR Congo to Nairobi in pursuit of surgical reconstruction after gunshot to the face and whose story inspired the first One Bullet Story, for consenting to the use of his pictures and story in this campaign.

2. University of Nairobi Maxillofacial Surgery department and the hospital staff for providing the theatre facilities and recovery ward for our patient.

3. The Embassy of Finland in Nairobi for sponsoring the initial One Bullet Story campaign in Kenya.

4. IPPNW Central office (Aiming for Prevention) for refining and adopting the OBS as its official small arms campaign tool.

For funding: