April 1, 2024
Despite delays due to COVID-19 closures and restrictions, Vietnam has resumed its efforts and investments to save children from drowning. Since early May, Vietnam has been celebrating the National Action Month for Children with activities at all levels to enhance the sense of responsibility among parents, civil society organizations and relevant child protection organizations to ensure a safe summer for children.
In line with the Government National Program on Child Injury Prevention, in close partnership with the Ministry of Labor-Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Hanoi People’s Committee launched the kick-off ceremony for their child drowning prevention program on May 26.
Quoc Oai province was selected to host the event, due to the fact that it has the country’s highest drowning burden. Participants included leaders from the Department of Child Affairs (DCA) within the MOLISA, the Department of Education and Training, the Youth Union and other organizations and more than 400 children aged 6-15 in the district.
Ms. Doan Thi Thu Huyen, GHAI’s Country Director, gave a speech at the ceremony and called for the local investment and stronger partnership of public-private organizations and parent associations to protect children from drowning.
“We are here today for the joint celebration of the National Action Month for Children. Four years ago, on this day, the Vietnam Child Drowning Prevention Program kicked off, starting with the eight highest-burden provinces and now the program is in 22 provinces, covering at least 47% of the national drowning burden. Let’s listen our children and protect them from drowning,” Huyen said.
“We are here to take action and change minds about this silent killer. Child drowning is preventable if we have proper interventions, such as survival swim and water safety education,” Huyen added.
At the event, GHAI, DCA/MOLISA, and the Hanoi People’s Committee jointly participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new swimming pool at Quoc Oai primary school. This is a meaningful moment to bring additional opportunities for children to learn essential survival skills, especially right before summer holiday.
For more information, please watch our Vietnam program implementation video.
