Drowning is a leading cause of child mortality in Vietnam, as stated by Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc at an inter-sectoral workshop on child drowning prevention on 10/7. Annually, the country records over 4,700 drowning deaths, with nearly 2,000 cases involving children. Vietnam's extensive river network and long coastline, combined with increasing climate change and natural disasters, heighten the risk of drowning accidents.

A primary factor contributing to child drowning is the limited awareness among families, communities, and society regarding this issue. Many children lack swimming skills and water safety knowledge, and they often do not recognize the dangers of swimming or playing near riverbanks. Furthermore, numerous localities suffer from inadequate facilities and a shortage of swimming instructors. The percentage of schools offering swimming lessons remains very low, with insufficient pools and equipment.

Data collected from 34 departments of education and training indicates that as of 15/6, only 2,919 out of 25,090 schools nationwide have swimming pools, which is approximately 12%. The rate of students who can swim stands at 41%, while each school, on average, has only 0,57 certified swimming instructors. A representative from the Ministry of Education and Training identified the biggest constraint as a lack of funding for infrastructure investment and social resources, particularly in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc speaks at the workshop. Photo: Ministry of Health

At the workshop, many experts highlighted that current swimming education relies on short-term programs and projects, which fail to achieve sustainable effectiveness. Associate Professor, Doctor Pham Viet Cuong, from the Center for Injury Policy and Prevention Research at Hanoi University of Public Health, noted that children's safe swimming skills can diminish by nearly 50% after about six months if not practiced regularly.

Drawing from implementation experiences in Dong Thap, Quang Tri, and Hue, he proposed integrating safe swimming into the official education curriculum. This program would include specific output standards, such as continuously swimming 25 meters and treading water or floating for 90 seconds. Additionally, he emphasized the need for consistent funding from local budgets, the development of mobile and smart pool models, and mechanisms for schools to share swimming facilities. These measures aim to expand swimming opportunities for students, especially those in remote, disadvantaged, and flood-prone areas.

Master Doan Thi Thu Huyen, country director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, shared this view, observing that extreme weather and natural disasters are increasing drowning risks, particularly in rural areas. She recommended embedding drowning prevention goals into local development plans, establishing unified standards for safe swimming instruction, and investing sustainably in facilities and teaching staff. She also stressed the importance of monitoring and evaluating children's skill retention after training, rather than merely counting participation numbers.

Children learn to swim in Da Nang. Photo: Tue Minh

Meheret Melles-Brewer, team lead for Environment and Healthy Lifestyles at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, further added that climate change, floods, and urbanization are escalating drowning risks. She advocated for integrating drowning prevention into national strategies for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. The WHO is committed to continuing its support for Vietnam in refining policies, enhancing capacity, and promoting sustainable investment in drowning prevention efforts.

Le Nga