Since 2021, World Drowning Prevention Day (July 25) events have been held in Hanoi every July. This year, an event to commemorate World Drowning Prevention Day and the 2024 Child Drowning Prevention Knowledge Contest was successfully held in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on July 28.

This initiative aims to enhance community awareness of drowning prevention while strengthening the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including government agencies, families, and schools, in promoting swimming education and drowning prevention efforts, ultimately contributing to a gradual reduction in drowning incidents.

Through activities such as the painting contest entitled "Children of Thua Thien-Hue Join Hands to Prevent Drowning", skits, water safety quizzes, and public speaking contests, students were equipped with essential knowledge about safety measures when engaging in water activities, as well as skills for holistic development and accident prevention related to drowning.

The series of World Drowning Prevention Day activities were held in the provinces of Nghe An and Thua Thien-Hue, which have substantial budgets to support swimming lessons and water safety programs for children aged 6 to 15, and a strong emphasis on media campaigns to raise community awareness about drowning prevention. 

Children join games as part of the World Drowning Prevention Day event. Photo courtesy of organizer

This year's theme, "Drowning - A Moment is All It Takes," underscores the dual purpose of the events: to recognize local achievements in child drowning prevention and to raise public awareness of the risks involved. In addition, the events will equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively protect their children. 

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 236,000 people die each year from drowning, with more than 90% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

Despite a downward trend in child drowning deaths in recent years, it remains one of the top ten causes of death among children in Vietnam. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs reports that an average of nearly 2,000 children died from drowning in Vietnam each year from 2015 to 2020. The child drowning rate in Vietnam exceeds that of countries in the Western Pacific region and is ten times higher than that of developed countries.

According to Nguyen Thi Ha, Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, everyone is at risk of drowning, but drowning is completely preventable. Efforts to prevent accidents and injuries among children, especially drowning, have consistently received the attention and support of the National Assembly, the Government and various levels of local authorities.

The Child Law establishes the State’s responsibility to implement measures for preventing child accidents and injuries. The child accident and injury prevention program for the 2021-2030 period includes comprehensive, multi-sectoral interventions aimed at reducing child drowning fatalities. This program focuses on implementing solutions and models to teach children water safety skills and create a safe environment for their protection.

Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative to Vietnam, said: "We can and must take more decisive action to replicate Nghe An's success in protecting children from drowning. Knowing how to swim can make the difference between drowning and survival in life-threatening situations. WHO strongly supports the Government of Vietnam's approach to mobilizing multiple agencies, with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs as the lead coordinator, to protect children from this preventable tragedy.