Nghe An: Launching a communication campaign to prevent child drowning

Attending the launching ceremony were representatives of the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, the Provincial Youth Union, the Provincial Women's Union, the Provincial Farmers' Association, the Provincial Children's Support Fund and Quynh Luu district. Photo: Minh Quan

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Bui Van Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghe An province said: In Nghe An province, in recent years, the work of preventing child injuries, especially drowning prevention, has been actively directed by the province with many synchronous solutions, with the close and regular coordination of all levels, sectors and localities.

Mr. Bui Van Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the province delivered the opening speech at the launching ceremony. Photo: Minh Quan

However, child drowning is still a painful reality. From 2019 to August 12, 2022, the whole province had 174 cases of child drowning, 198 children died due to drowning (In 2019: 51 cases with 58 children died; there were 52 cases/56 children died; in 2021 there were 49 cases/52 children died; in the first 8 months of 2022 there were 22 cases/32 children died).

The basic reason is that the awareness of some families, communities and society about child drowning prevention in localities is still limited and lacks specific actions; the living environment for children still has many potential risks of drowning (there are many ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, beaches, deep holes...) but lacks close and regular management and supervision by parents, relatives and caregivers; many children have not learned to swim and lack safety skills in the water environment, while facilities, especially swimming pool systems, playgrounds, entertainment and activities for children are still lacking and not synchronized...

A free swimming class for children in Quynh Luu district. Photo: Thanh Toan

In 2022, Nghe An province 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 child drowning in Vietnam in the period 2021 - 2022". This is a project supported by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in coordination with the US Global Policy Advocacy Organization.

In 2022, the project will be deployed and implemented in 12 communes: Dien Phu, Dien Phuc, Minh Chau, Dien Ngoc (Dien Chau), Vien Thanh, Bac Thanh, Khanh Thanh, Trung Thanh (Yen Thanh), Quynh Doi, Quynh Hong, Quynh Bang, Quynh Hoa (Quynh Luu) with specific activities such as: communication activities, training and teaching swimming, teaching safety skills in the water environment for children from 6 to 15 years old in the project implementation area and some related activities.

The leaders of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs suggested that, after the launching ceremony, in order to continue to strengthen the implementation of child drowning prevention, especially the project activities are deployed promptly, when the flood season is approaching, the sectors and localities need to pay attention, coordinate to promote propaganda in many forms, on the media to raise awareness, disseminate knowledge and skills on drowning prevention for people and children; regularly train and guide knowledge and skills on child drowning prevention for parents, caregivers and children; mobilize social resources to strengthen the organization of safe swimming lessons for children...

Nghe An Province Children's Fund presents life jackets to disadvantaged students in Quynh Luu district. Photo: Minh Quan

At the ceremony, the Provincial Children's Fund presented 100 life jackets to 100 disadvantaged students living near rivers and seas in Quynh Luu district./.