A propgramme to teach safe swimming for children with the aim of preventing drowning will be held in 63 localities nationwide from May to August. The information was announced at a press conference in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

The programme is a joint effort by the Viet Nam Sports Administration under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Education and Training. A launching ceremony will be organised in northern Ninh Binh Province on 20 May.

Major activities of the programme include publicity about safety in swimming on mass media, a national swimming competition in July in Da Nang, and a drowning rescue contest in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap in August.

At the conference, Vice Director of the Viet Nam Sports and Physical Training Administration Pham Van Tuan said that drowning is the leading cause of death in children and adolescents in Viet Nam, especially in summer and stormy season.

He noted that an initial report showed that the ratio of children who can swim in Viet Nam remains low at under 30%. Therefore, the teaching of swimming as well as skills of preventing drowning is vital and urgent amongst children.

The programme targets a sharp drop in children drowning cases compared to 2017, added Tuan.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)