Child drowning incidents decline
The number of child drowning incidents has dropped as a result of a multi-sectoral plan on child drowning prevention launched in 2011, it was reported at a conference in Hanoi on September 11.
Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Doan Mau Diep said the rate of child drowning is still high.
Statistics showed that 1,708 children lost their lives due to drowning last year, mainly in summertime. In the first half of this year, the figure amounted to nearly 700.
The plan on preventing child drowning is being carried out nationwide from 2012 to 2015, with the aim of reducing the number of child deaths by drowning by 25 percent compared to the 2010 figure.
The deputy minister urged ministries, departments and local authorities to learn from international experience in this connection.
Nguyen Trong An, deputy head of MoLISA’s Child Care and Protection Department said more than 40 cities and provinces have worked out their own plans of action to reinforce the waterway traffic safety regulations and build a safe environment for local children. Over 500,000 households are committed to building safe houses while some 200 communes are recognised as safe.
Free swimming courses have been eld with a network of first-aid services set up in many localities, he said.
The workshop was co-hosted by the MoLISA and the World Health Organisation.