Over the past time, the implementation and concretization of the implementation of the Law on Children 2016 and related policies and laws on children have been effectively implemented by the Party committees and local authorities. In which, the prevention and control of children's accidents and injuries, the focus is on drowning prevention, the propaganda and education of policies and laws on children are focused. Some localities and units have implemented quite well the content of measures on child protection at 3 levels (prevention, support, intervention), minimizing risks affecting children.
However, according to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (LOLISA), the past reality shows that from time to time, the coordination between local authorities, schools and families in child protection work. I'm not good. Some localities implement 3 levels of child protection inadequately as prescribed by law. The investment in cultural and sports institutions for children is still lacking, failing to meet the needs of children, especially in remote and isolated areas. Communication and education on life skills and child protection skills are not very effective.
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| The lack of facilities, in which the swimming pool is the main, has made swimming lessons for children not synchronized and not maintained regularly. |
This problem leads to many cases of children dying from drowning every year in the province. According to statistics, from 2016 to the end of 2022, 185 children died from drowning. In the first months of 2023, the province recorded 7 cases of children dying from drowning.
According to the analysis of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in addition to the topographical characteristics of Ca Mau, there are many canals, canals, rivers, and coastal areas, which have many potential risks of causing drowning accidents among children. are subjective, such as children whose parents work far away, live with grandparents, elderly relatives, and lack supervision. Moreover, the children in the active age group, have not been equipped with skills to prevent drowning, do not recognize all the risks that easily lead to drowning accidents.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Tu, Deputy Director of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said: “Another reason that needs to be recognized, as well as local limitations, is the problem of facilities. The lack of facilities, in which the swimming pool is the main thing, leads to the lack of synchronized swimming lessons for children, not maintained regularly.
In terms of facilities, there are currently 51 swimming pools in the province, distributed in 40/101 communes, wards and townships. In which, the swimming pool invested by a private enterprise organization is 22 lakes, at primary and secondary schools there are 29 lakes (at 29/335 schools). Through the review, the majority of existing swimming pools in the province are from socialization sources. These figures show a very modest number of swimming pools invested in recent years. In addition, currently some lakes at school sites are degraded and discontinued.
This leads to not being regularly equipped with knowledge and skills to prevent drowning accidents for children, especially in schools. The cultural environment, life skills education programs, and drowning prevention and safety skills for students at all levels are still limited, and there is no synchronous solution from schools, families and social communities. There is no mechanism to compel the introduction of swimming into extracurricular and curricular teaching in primary and secondary schools, so there is no binding family responsibility.
“In order to effectively carry out child drowning prevention and control, and reduce child deaths from drowning, it requires the participation of all levels, sectors, business communities and people; encourage the socialization of activities serving the child drowning prevention program. Therefore, it is necessary to have mechanisms, policies and resources to well implement child protection work in Ca Mau province in the current context," added Ms. Nguyen Thu Tu.
It is known that from reality, the locality is in the process of developing a resolution to stipulate the level of support for children's swimming lessons and preferential credits for organizations and individuals investing in swimming pools in the locality. Ca Mau province to 2030. The goal of the promulgation of this resolution is to show the Party and local authorities' interest in strategic, regular and long-term child care and protection. . Along with that is building a safe living environment, ensuring conditions for children to develop comprehensively. Striving to 2030, over 90% of children aged 6-16 can swim.
Nghi Dinh
