Vietnam aims to raise the number of children being taught how to swim by 40 percent by 2020 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam had been taking measures to teach children how toswim in recent years, but more than 2,000 children still died from drowningannually.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam made the statement at a ceremony to launch aprogramme to teach children and adults how to swim and avoid the dangers posedby water, which was organised in Hanoi, May 19.
Deputy PM Dam said that since 2016, only 1,000 out of the 50,000 schoolsnationwide had taught their students how to swim and avoid drowning.
Only 1,000 out of 11,000 communes had implemented the programme to teach morepeople how to swim and to prevent child drowning.
A report from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs showed thatfrom 2010-15, more than 3,000 children died from drowning per year due to alack of swimming skills, poor supervision and natural disasters.
Decision 234/QD-TTg issued by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on February 5,2016 states that by 2020, the number of child deaths from drowning must be cutby at least six percent from 2015. The number of children being taught how toswim must increase by 40 percent. - VNA
A conference took place in Hanoi on November 27 to review the outcomes of a nationwide programme on safe swimming and drowning prevention for children for 2016-2020.
The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap is looking to implement a number of child-drowning prevention programmes this year thanks to 200,000 USD in aid from the Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).
The northern mountainous province of Yen Bai is working to implement a project to bolster child drowning prevention, said Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Thu Ha.
A campaign to encourage the community to practice swimming for drowning prevention will be launched on May 19 at the culture, information and sports centre of Hanoi’s Long Bien district, according to the organising board.
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With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
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As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Vietnam aims to raise the number of children being taught how to swim by 40 percent by 2020 (Photo: VNA) 
