Vietnam Seeks to Boost Drowning Prevention Through Enhanced Swimming Education Amid Rising Risks

Only about 41% of students in Vietnam can swim, and drowning remains a leading cause of death among children. The government is exploring measures to integrate swimming education into the regular curriculum to address this critical issue. At an inter-sectoral workshop on child drowning prevention held on July 10, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc stated that drowning claims over 4,700 lives annually nationwide, with nearly 2,000 of these being children. Vietnam's extensive network of rivers and long coastline, coupled with the increasing frequency of climate change impacts and natural disasters, amplifies the risk of drowning incidents. The primary reasons for child drowning are identified as limited awareness among families, communities, and society regarding the issue. Many children lack swimming skills and water safety knowledge, failing to recognize the dangers of swimming or playing near rivers. Furthermore, many localities face a shortage of facilities and qualified swimming instructors. The proportion of schools offering swimming lessons remains very low, with a scarcity of pools and equipment. Data from 34 Departments of Education and Training reveals that as of June 15, only 2,919 out of 25,090 schools nationwide (approximately 12%) have swimming pools. The rate of students who can swim stands at 41%, yet each school averages only 0.57 certified swimming instructors. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training highlighted that the biggest constraint is the lack of funding for infrastructure development and socialized resources, particularly in remote and rural areas. Experts at the workshop noted that current swimming instruction often relies on short-term programs and projects, failing to achieve sustainable results. Associate Professor Dr. Pham Viet Cuong from the Research Center for Policy and Injury Prevention, Hanoi University of Public Health, pointed out that children's safe swimming skills can diminish by nearly 50% within six months if not practiced regularly. He proposed integrating "safe swimming" into the core curriculum with clear learning outcomes, such as swimming 25 meters continuously and being able to float or tread water for 90 seconds. He also emphasized the need for consistent funding from local budgets, the development of mobile and smart swimming pools, and mechanisms for schools to share pool facilities to expand swimming opportunities, especially in remote areas and flood-prone regions. Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Doan Thi Thu Huyen, Country Director of Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids, commented that extreme weather and natural disasters are increasing drowning risks, particularly in rural areas. She suggested integrating drowning prevention goals into local development plans, establishing unified standards for safe swimming instruction, and investing sustainably in facilities and teaching staff. She also advocated for monitoring and evaluating children's skill retention after training, rather than just counting participation numbers. Ms. Meheret Melles-Brewer, the Healthy Environments and Lifestyles team lead at the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office in Vietnam, stated that climate change, floods, and urbanization are escalating drowning risks. Therefore, she urged the integration of this issue into national strategies for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. The WHO pledged to continue supporting Vietnam in refining policies, enhancing capacity, and promoting sustainable investment in drowning prevention efforts.