Advanced training on preventing drowning among children.

Accordingly, this program is implemented in accordance with Decision No. 1248/QD-TTg dated June 19, 2021, of the Prime Minister approving the Program for the Prevention and Control of Accidents and Injuries to Children in the period 2021-2030, and Decision No. 944/QD-BLDTBXH dated July 17, 2024, of the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs on organizing activities to prevent and control child drowning on World Day for the Prevention and Control of Drowning.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Dang Hoa Nam, Director of the Department of Children, stated that while the number of drowning incidents among children has decreased recently, the situation has not been completely resolved. Therefore, to enhance the effectiveness of drowning prevention and control among children, close coordination among relevant parties is necessary. This is especially important for media and press organizations, which play a crucial role in guiding and explaining the nature of the problem and how to encourage active participation in drowning prevention and control.

In addition, the Director of the Department of Children stated that the communication process is based on the level of change in the target audience, from interest, learning, exchanging information, changing perceptions and viewpoints… to changing behavior, maintaining actions, and acquiring skills. Through this, knowledge, behaviors, and actions are disseminated.

"The media plays a very important role in raising awareness and changing people's behavior. However, media outlets need to use media effectively not only to report news but also to create a shift in people's awareness and actions," Mr. Dang Hoa Nam emphasized.

From the overall and specific objectives, Mr. Nam also shared solutions and communication plans: analyzing the context; identifying goals and target audience; defining responsibilities; building messages and content; selecting methods, channels, and designing products; identifying resources and implementation responsibilities; roadmap, progress, and monitoring and evaluation.

Also at the training session, Dr. Duong Khanh Van, a technical officer from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, stated that drowning is the cause of over 2.5 million preventable deaths in the past decade. This accident is entirely preventable through the implementation of evidence-based, cost-effective approaches.

Dr. Duong Khanh Van shared a lot of practical information related to the reality of drowning among children.

In Vietnam, drowning is one of the top 10 causes of death for children aged 1 to 14. Nearly 2,000 cases of drowning have been reported among children under 16. Risk factors for drowning in children include playing near water without adult supervision and lacking swimming and water safety skills; using unsafe or overcrowded water transport without safety equipment such as life vests; and natural disasters.

Therefore, the WHO has recommended four strategies and six interventions to prevent drowning. The strategies focus on ensuring strong national mechanisms are in place for a coordinated and effective approach to addressing drowning, while the interventions promote community action.

To effectively prevent and combat drowning, close coordination and active participation from various sectors are necessary to maximize the resources and capabilities of these sectors in this effort.

Furthermore, according to Ms. Doan Thi Thu Huyen, M.Sc., from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids organization, 2,250 officials have received capacity-building training in preventing child drowning, 908 instructors have been trained in safe swimming, and 1,096 instructors have been trained in safety skills. As a result, 44,398 children aged 6-15 have learned safe swimming, 52,250 children aged 6-15 have learned safety skills, and 30,204 parents, caregivers, and preschool teachers have received guidance on preventing child drowning.

Ms. Doan Thi Thu Huyen, M.Sc. - Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (far right) presented several important statistics.

Notably, during the training session, participants also engaged in discussions, asked questions to experts, and completed group exercises, enhancing networking and adding to the lively atmosphere of the training. Thanks to this, nearly 40 journalists from various newspapers and magazines gained new perspectives on drowning prevention activities and discovered appropriate solutions for Vietnamese children.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/gan-40-phong-vien-nha-bao-tham-gia-tap-huan-nang-cao-nghiep-vu-ve-phong-chong-duoi-nuoc-cho-tre-em-post316198.html