Campaign aims to prevent drowning among children

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) on June 16 launched a campaign to prevent children’s drowning, targeting a reduction of 15% in the number of fatalities in 2015 compared to 2010.

Addressing the launching ceremony, MOLISA Deputy Minister Doan Mau Diep called on all relevant agencies, international organisations and localities to join hands in strengthening communications on helping children protect themselves from drowning and building a safe environment in their living and studying places. 

It is necessary to promote first aid knowledge to save drowning children, while increasing measures to ensure waterway traffic safety, he said. 

Preventing drowning among children and reducing deaths from the cause is a reachable target if authorities and families care more about children, stated Diep. 

Drowning is among top causes of child fatalities in Vietnam , with over 3,300 deaths in 2012, equivalent to about nine cases every day. The figure is 10 times higher than the average figure of regional developing countries. 

More than 50% of the victims were bathing in ponds, lakes, rivers or the sea without adult supervision. 

Teaching children, especially those in rural areas, to swim safely has been considered as the most effective measure to protect them.

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