Approximately 35.7% of children in Nghe An province know how to swim.
This information was presented at the closing conference of the project "Supporting the implementation of effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and combat child drowning in Nghe An province, 2024-2025".
On the morning of December 26th, the Department of Health – Project Coordination Board for Child Drowning Prevention in Nghe An province, in collaboration with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids organization (USA), held a conference to summarize the project “Supporting the implementation of effective and sustainable interventions to prevent child drowning in Nghe An province, 2024-2025”.
The conference was attended by representatives from the leadership of various departments, agencies, and organizations in the province; and representatives from the People's Committees and schools of 16 communes in the province.
During the period 2024-2025, with the attention and guidance of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee; the close coordination of departments, agencies, and localities; and the support of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids organization, the project to prevent child drowning in Nghe An province has been implemented comprehensively and systematically, achieving many positive results.
Specifically, the Project organized a comprehensive range of communication, education, training, and thematic activities on a large scale. Surveys showed that 97.2% of households in the intervention area had access to information on preventing child drowning... the awareness of residents, parents, and children about the risks and preventive measures has significantly improved.
The project organized 247 free safe swimming lessons for 4,940 children; at the same time, it equipped more than 38,400 children with water safety skills through various methods suitable for different target groups and locations.
Many practical, low-cost, yet highly effective models such as safe swimming instruction in schools, safe community models, safe homes, safe ferry crossings, and homemade lifebuoys are being maintained and effectively promoted.
The social impact of the Project is evident: The number of child deaths due to drowning in the province has decreased from 56 children in 2020 to 36 children in 2025, a reduction of 35.7%; the percentage of children who know how to swim in the province has reached approximately 35.7%; the province currently has 314 swimming pools, an increase of 86.9% compared to 2020, with many pools invested in schools and disadvantaged areas.
At the conference, delegates comprehensively and objectively assessed the results of the project's implementation during the 2024-2025 period; shared successful models, effective methods, and lessons learned in implementation across various sectors and localities; identified difficulties and limitations, and subsequently proposed feasible directions and solutions for the 2026-2030 period; and continued to call for the support and cooperation of organizations, businesses, sponsors, and the entire society in the prevention and control of child drowning in the future.
The conference agreed on the direction for the period 2026-2030 with the central goal of reducing the number of child deaths due to drowning by 10-15% each year, expanding the coverage of preventive interventions, and focusing on sustainability and social participation.
At the conference, the leaders of the Nghe An Department of Health awarded Certificates of Commendation to 8 collectives and 4 individuals who had achieved outstanding results in implementing the Project to support the deployment of effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and combat child drowning in the period 2024 - 2025.
