Join hands to protect and care for children

On this occasion, Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Ms. Le Thi Nguyet - Head of Children and Gender Equality Department,Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Do not be subjective with drowning

PV:Madam, Summer has just begun but we have already heard many tragic drowning cases. After these heartbreaking events, what is your biggest concern?

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet:Every year, on average, the whole province has 52 child drowning cases, causing 54 deaths.drowning, in which the 5-16 age group accounts for the most. These are truly heartbreaking incidents and no one can help but feel sorry.

Through the cases related to children dying from drowning in the province, I am most concerned about 3 issues: First, the rate of drowning in ponds and lakes near homes is quite high, accounting for 34% (in 2020) and 40.4% (in 2021). Particularly during the time when children are home from school to prevent and fight the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of children drowning has increased.

A swimming lesson for students of the Pedagogical Practice Primary and Secondary School. Photo: PV

This shows the great responsibility of the family in management, supervision, care, and some families are still subjective, taking lightly the issue of management, supervision, and education of children about knowledge and skills in swimming, drowning rescue, and safety in the water environment; they do not have the ability to prevent and resolve (first aid) when children encounter drowning accidents. In many cases, parents are away, children play near ponds, lakes, and rivers, so when an accident occurs, there is no timely help, support, or intervention.

Second, we also see that currently the rate of children and students being taught swimming, instructed in swimming skills, drowning rescue, and handling skills in the water environment is still too low. If they do not know how to swim, or even if they know how to swim but have not been instructed in swimming skills, drowning rescue, and safe handling skills in the water environment, the risk of drowning is very high.

Third, although the province's economy has grown, it still faces many difficulties, so the investment budget for children's entertainment and recreation areas, including swimming pools, is still lacking; the socialization and operation of swimming pools still face many difficulties. From the above reality, it is necessary to have solutions to create conditions for children in general, and children in difficult circumstances in particular, to access swimming programs, to be instructed in swimming skills, drowning rescue, and safe handling skills in the water environment.

PV:Nghe An was selected by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs as one of 12 provinces to implement the Project "Supporting the implementation of effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and combat drowning for children in Vietnam" last year. Can you share information about this project?

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet:With the support of the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, and funding from the Bloogber Charity Foundation, the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs has effectively implemented a number of activities of the Project "Supporting effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and combat child drowning in Vietnam" in 2021 in Yen Thanh and Dien Chau districts of Nghe An province.

Instructing students on first aid in case of drowning. Photo: PV

The project's objective is to raise awareness of the risks and measures to ensure safety and prevent drowning of children at all levels, sectors, parents, caregivers and the community. Strengthen swimming lessons and improve water safety skills for children aged 6 to 15 in communes where the project is implemented. The implementation of the project will be the basis for us to replicate it throughout the province and minimize the situation of drowning of children.

PV:As we know, to do a good job of preventing and combating drowning, not only the role of the Labor Department but also the coordination of many departments and branches. In recent years, how has the coordination of Nghe An been carried out, Madam? Currently, this is also a very difficult job and to do this job well, what solutions do we need, according to you?

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet:I can confirm that in recent times, the Party committees, authorities, departments, branches and organizations at the provincial level have strongly participated in the work of preventing and combating drowning for children, especially the coordination of propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility of agencies, organizations, individuals and the community in preventing and combating child injuries and drowning. In recent years, we have organized hundreds of communication sessions, built the model of "Safe House" to create a safe environment for children at home, school and in the community, associated with building communes, wards and towns suitable for children in the area.

A communication session on drowning prevention at Hung Binh Secondary School. Photo: PV

In addition, localities have also implemented the model "Children in the whole commune know how to swim", "Students in the whole school know how to swim" and opened dozens of free swimming classes for thousands of students. Youth Union organizations and schools have done a good job of propaganda to families, parents and students, reminding parents to closely monitor and manage their children during the summer break; organizing inspections and placing warning signs in areas with high risk of drowning. In difficult conditions, many units have renovated and cleaned the environment in streams and dams and opened free swimming classes for children during the summer.

However, it must be said that the current work of preventing and combating drowning in the province still faces many difficulties and shortcomings, and in addition to the efforts of departments and branches, there needs to be the participation of local authorities and the attention and care of families. With the characteristics of Nghe An, we need to continue to organize inspections, screening, fencing, filling, placing warning signs, prohibition signs, and zoning off construction pits, beaches, rivers, streams, canals, dams, ponds, lakes, ferry piers, deep water areas, etc. At the same time, prepare backup drowning rescue tools at potential risk points of injury and drowning of children, especially during the summer and rainy season.

To have many beautiful memories in the summer

PV:Vietnam has just gone through more than 2 years of being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on all aspects of society. How does this affect children, Madam?

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet:In the context of the increasingly complicated and widespread outbreak of Covid-19 in districts, cities and towns, children are also heavily affected. The most obvious thing is that children's studies are interrupted; they cannot go to school and have to switch to online teaching. Some children of preschool and kindergarten age have parents who go to work, some families have both parents following the "3 on-site" plan, so they have to rely on relatives or siblings to take care of each other, so they are not really guaranteed knowledge about nutrition, safety, hygiene...

For nearly 3 years, children have been restricted from playing, entertaining, participating in social activities, and interacting with the community. In addition, the increased time spent using the Internet and social networks makes them vulnerable to bad and toxic information, bullying, exploitation, and abuse through the online environment.

Gifted class of Hoa Sen Kindergarten. Photo: Duc Anh

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of children in special and difficult circumstances has increased, many of them suddenly becoming orphans. Recently, following the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has done a good job of mobilizing resources to support the children.

PV:In this special context, how should we organize a summer that is truly meaningful for children? Do you agree that students have to go to school too much during the summer?

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet:After a long school year with lots of homework and exams, the constant extra classes can affect the children's daily activities. Therefore, Summer is the ideal time for children to balance their daily activities with simple things like going to bed and waking up on time, eating nutritious food... and having good health for the upcoming school year.

To have a useful and meaningful summer, with many beautiful memories, I think that during the summer, parents should not force their children to study too many cultural subjects. Instead, parents should help their children practice self-study, so that they can review and learn more knowledge in textbooks. In addition, they should let their children study more sports and practice life skills.

Summer day of students in Hung Tan commune (Hung Nguyen). Photo: MH

Summer is the ideal time for parents to teach their children to do housework without fear of affecting their study time. It is through housework that children can find joy and become more mature. Summer also becomes meaningful if children can return to their hometown, participate in local summer activities... I believe that, after nearly 3 years of children being restricted from activities, this year they will have a useful and interesting summer.

PV:Month of Action for ChildrenThis year's Month of Action for Children is held with the theme "Join hands to protect children, speak up to prevent and combat child abuse and violence". Is this also a burning issue today and what do we need to do to make this year's Month of Action for Children truly meaningful?

Ms. Le Thi Nguyet:In the past 3 years, the number of cases of violence and child abuse discovered and handled in the province has decreased, but the rate of decrease is not much. From 2019 to 2021, the whole province had 81 cases/93 defendants/85 child victims. It is worth mentioning that child abuse cases are increasingly dangerous, there are cases where children are abused at a very young age. Most of the subjects who commit child abuse have a certain relationship with relatives or the abused children themselves, such as: father, mother, friends, neighbors, teachers, people responsible for caring for, acquaintances of the children.

Students of Do Luong district participate in the "Folk Song Singing" Club. Photo: MH

According to statistics, at the end of 2021, our province had 13,619 children in special circumstances and 126,919 children at risk of falling into special circumstances, this is a group of children at high risk of abuse and violence. Meanwhile, awareness of child protection in general and prevention and control of violence, abuse, trafficking of children, and school violence in particular among people and students is not complete and profound. Communication and advocacy work, raising awareness among people about prevention and control of violence, child abuse, gender, psychology, and physiology of children's ages is still limited in some places. Some families lack knowledge and skills about child protection, understanding of the law, prevention and control of violence and child abuse is still limited. Besides, the coordination between families, schools, organizations and local authorities in managing, supervising and caring for children in some places is not close and sometimes ineffective.

These will be challenges for us and more than ever, the whole community must join hands to condemn this action and protect children with many practical and meaningful actions. We need to increase awareness of social and community behavior and must boldly speak up and denounce acts and suspicions of child abuse. Do not let the incident become too complicated and cause serious consequences before we resolve and intervene.

PV:Thanks for the chat!