Program 'Family Day for Child Drowning Prevention 2024' in Nghe An

Attending the program were Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha - Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; Kelly Larson - Director of the Drowning Prevention and Road Traffic Safety Program, Bloomberg Philanthropies, USA; Vandana Shah - Vice President of Health System Strengthening, Campaign for Tobacco - Free Kids; representatives of the Department of Children (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs), Director of the Department of Health Environment Management (Ministry of Health).

On the side of Nghe An province, there were Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, representatives of leaders of a number of departments, agencies and 100 students representing more than 900,000 children in the whole province.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the representative of the Department of Children (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs) said: This is the fourth year of implementing the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on drowning prevention, aiming to raise awareness of the burden of drowning as well as effective intervention measures. The World Health Organization has chosen the theme of World Drowning Prevention Day 2024 as: "Drowning - Moment of Survival". This is an extremely important event, with the desire to call on governments, relevant ministries, branches, organizations and individuals to act together to promote drowning prevention efforts.

According to statistics from Nghe An province, from 2021 to June 2024, the whole province had 179 children drowned. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the Party committees and authorities of the province have resolutely and synchronously implemented solutions to prevent and combat drowning, including propaganda and education activities to raise awareness among people; reviewing high-risk areas for drowning to put up warning signs and prohibition signs; prioritizing investment in building swimming pools and organizing swimming classes for children. From 2021 to now, Nghe An province has reduced the number of children who died from drowning by 8-10% every year.

In addition to the province's efforts, in recent times, with the attention of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Bloomberg Charitable Foundation, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Children has paid attention to supporting Nghe An province to receive and implement the Project "Supporting the implementation of effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and combat child drowning" from 2021 to 2023 and continue to implement the period 2024-2025 in 16 communes in 4 districts with high rates of child drowning in the province (Anh Son, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu).

At the program, the leaders of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs called for: To continue promoting the achieved results and reduce drowning accidents in the coming time, it is necessary to have the joint efforts of the whole society, especially the role of families and children and students.

In particular, focusing on educational programs, training safe swimming skills, safety skills in water environments for children from schools to residential communities. Educational institutions coordinate with families to care for and educate their children about drowning prevention skills, at the same time, have the responsibility to manage and look after their children to ensure safety in the living environment of the family and community, especially in places with high risk of drowning.

Also at the program, delegates performed the assembly ceremony, completing the large painting "Preventing and preventing children from drowning"; visited the area displaying artworks made by students with the theme of preventing and preventing drowning and experienced activities to prevent and prevent drowning.