Proposal to spend 670 billion VND to prevent child injuries

In recent years, although there have been preventive measures, the number of children dying from accidents and injuries has tended to decrease but not much and is still at a high level. In the next phase, measures to prevent accidents and injuries in children will focus on eliminating the risks of accidents and injuries in children from drowning, traffic accidents, poisoning, etc.

This information was given at the workshop on building a program to prevent and combat child injuries in the 2016-2020 period organized by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs on November 24 in Hanoi.

Child injury is a pressing issue worldwide and even more so in Vietnam. Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest rates of child injury and death from injury in the world and the region.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children. (Illustration photo: VNA).

In Vietnam, in 2010, on average, 20 children and adolescents aged 0-19 died each day due to accidents and injuries. By 2013, the trend of deaths due to accidents and injuries had decreased but was still very high compared to developed countries, with an average of about 18 children and adolescents dying each day due to accidents and injuries.

Of the seven causes of injury to children (drowning, traffic accidents, falls, poisoning, burns, animal bites, sharp object stabbing), drowning and traffic accidents are the most common causes of injury and death.

Continuing the child injury prevention program that has been implemented since 2013, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is developing a child injury prevention program for the period 2016 - 2020. The estimated cost of the program in 5 years of implementation is 670 billion VND, of which the central budget is 160 billion VND, the local budget is 420 billion VND, and international mobilization is 90 billion VND.

Ms. Vu Thi Kim Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Child Care and Protection (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs) said that the goal of the program is to limit injuries and deaths in children, especially accidents with high risk of death such as drowning and traffic accidents.

During the 5 years of implementation, the program sets 11 specific goals to reduce the rate of child injuries and deaths due to accidents, build 5 million "safe houses", 7,000 "safe schools" and 1,000 communes and wards meeting "Safe Community" standards.

Regarding the prevention of traffic accidents and drowning, the program aims to reduce the number of children involved in road traffic accidents by 10% and the number of children dying from drowning by 10% compared to 2015. By 2020, at least 90% of children will use life jackets and life jackets when participating in waterway traffic, and 100% of swimming pools, public swimming pools, and beaches in tourist areas will be licensed to ensure safety regulations./.

According to VIETNAM+