Dong Thap is home to over 350,000 children, who account for 18.8 percent of its population.
Pham Viet Cong, deputy head of the local Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, said that just under half (45 percent) of children aged between 6-15 cannot swim.
Drowning is now one of the leading causes of death among children, he said, adding that from 2015-2019, each year, the locality reports 43 child drowning cases. In the first four months of this year, nine local children died of drowning.
Cong said that with the assisting funds, Dong Thap will carry out effective and sustainable interference activities to prevent child drowning in 15 communes of Lap Vo, Lai Vung, Chau Thanh, and Tam Nong districts.
Activities targeting children aged 15 and under will help to raise local awareness of risks and measures to ensure safety for children and prevent child drowning, and to teach children aged 6-15 how to swim.
This year, Dong Thap is among the eight provinces – together with Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ninh Binh, Quang Binh, Thanh Hoa, Dak Lak, and Soc Trang – receiving aid from the Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO, and GHAI.
Source: VNA