Ha Noi, 25 July 2025 – Despite major progress in saving lives from drowning, death rates are not reducing fast enough, said the Administration of Maternal and Child Affairs (AMCA) at the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) on World Drowning Prevention Day (25 July).
Drowning remains a leading cause of death among children in Viet Nam, particularly among those aged 5 to 14. Despite significant progress in drowning prevention efforts, the mortality rate has not declined as quickly as expected. On the occasion of World Drowning Prevention Day, 25 July 2025, the Department of Maternal and Child Affairs (Ministry of Health), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) jointly call on all levels of government, sectors, and society as a whole to step up actions to protect children from the risk of drowning.
This year, the theme of World Drowning Prevention Day in Viet Nam is “Cùng hành động để không còn trẻ em bị đuối nước” – which means “Together, let’s act so no more children drown” – highlighting the importance of multisectoral coordination and collective action across all levels of society to reduce the risk of drowning deaths among children.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), statistics in 2021 indicated that there are around 300,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide, 57% of which involved children and young people, and 92% of cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries. In the same year, Viet Nam recorded 4,019 drowning deaths, with 40% involving children under the age of 14, making drowning one of the leading causes of death in this age group.
Dr. Tran Dang Khoa, Deputy Director General of the Department of Maternal and Child Affairs, Ministry of Health, shared: “Viet Nam has made significant progress in preventing child drowning, but many challenges remain. The Ministry of Health has issued an official letter to the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, urging them to prioritize resources, implement effective interventions, strengthen public communication, promote multisectoral collaboration, and scale up proven drowning prevention models for children.
Every drowning death is a preventable tragedy. We call on parents, schools, communities, and local authorities to take action to prevent child drowning — particularly in rural areas and regions with many ponds, rivers, lakes, and streams — as we work towards the goal of ending child drowning in Viet Nam.
On this occasion, we once again urge all levels of government to: Increase investment in child drowning prevention programmes, especially in high-risk areas; Enhance community education on water safety, first aid skills, and child supervision; Expand swimming and water safety programmes for children in schools and communities; Strengthen intersectoral and international cooperation, and integrate drowning prevention into sustainable development policies.”
WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt said, “Every death to drowning is one too many. Anyone can drown, but no one should. There is strong evidence from around the world about what works to prevent drowning. We need to scale up the low-cost interventions that can drastically reduce the risk of drowning and protect children. By doing so, we can save more needless deaths and create safer environments for everyone.”
Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) Representative in Viet Nam Ms Doan Thu Huyen said, “Drowning can happen in just a few short moments, but with timely and correct awareness and action, what can happen? What happens in those moments can also change for the better. Drowning is preventable."
Effective drowning prevention measures for authorities include:
- installing barriers in public areas to prevent easy access to water hazards;
- ensuring lifeguards are present at public swimming pools and beaches;
- providing communities with rescue and resuscitation training;
- maintaining active and effective search and rescue operations; and
- delivering free, accessible weather alerts to help communities stay informed about risks.
Individuals and families can also protect themselves and their loved ones. The most important actions are:
- Learn to swim: Equip yourself and your children with swimming skills. Swimming lessons save lives.
- Supervise children: Always keep a close eye on children near water. Never leave children unattended, even for a moment.
- No alcohol near water: Avoid drinking alcohol when around water. Stay alert and vigilant.
- Be aware of surroundings: Always check weather and water conditions before swimming or boating. Stay informed and safe.
- Use safety equipment: Wear lifejackets when boating, especially for children. Access to safety gear can make a crucial difference.
Thanks to Government leadership and with the support of partners such as Bloomberg Philanthropies and CTFK , thousands of children have passed survival swimming courses and learn water safety skills.
WHO has supported the Government in policy development and implementation of the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Child Injury for 2021-2030 and the Multisectoral Collaboration Plan on Child Drowning Prevention for 2022-2030. Based on global best practice and evidence, WHO’s recommendations for preventing drowning include multisectoral collaboration, strengthening public awareness of drowning, establishing a national drowning prevention plan, and collecting data.
Information for editors
Administration of Maternal and Child Affairs (AMCA)
The Department of Maternal and Child Affairs (Ministry of Health) is the specialized agency responsible for assisting the Ministry of Health in state management and implementation of activities related to the protection and care of maternal, child, and adolescent health.
The Department was established through the merger of the Maternal and Child Health Department (formerly under the Ministry of Health) and the Child Protection Department (formerly under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs), with the aim of enhancing coordination and coherence in managing policies and programmes for the care and protection of women and children.
In the area of child drowning prevention, the Department leads the development, issuance, and guidance of technical programmes and materials; collaborates with ministries, sectors, and international organizations to implement effective intervention models; and strengthens public communication to raise awareness—particularly among parents and caregivers—about drowning prevention.
The Department also serves as the national focal point for developing policies and national action plans on child injury prevention, with drowning prevention as a key focus area.
World Health Organization (WHO) Viet Nam Office
Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. In 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted the first-ever Resolution on drowning prevention, which highlighted links to sustainable development, social equity, urban health, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and child health and well-being. The Resolution called on WHO to coordinate multisectoral drowning prevention efforts within the UN system and announced 25 July as World Drowning Prevention Day. In Viet Nam, WHO supports the Government’s work on drowning prevention, with the generous support of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids.
Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK)
Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids is a United States non-governmental organization established in 1997. In Viet Nam, the organization is coordinating with ministries, localities, and universities to implement many public health program, namely tobacco control, child drowning prevention, road traffic injury prevention, children’s healthy nutrition.
Individuals and families can also protect themselves and their loved ones. The most important actions are:
- Learn to swim: Equip yourself and your children with swimming skills. Swimming lessons save lives.
- Supervise children: Always keep a close eye on children near water. Never leave children unattended, even for a moment.
- No alcohol near water: Avoid drinking alcohol when around water. Stay alert and vigilant.
- Be aware of surroundings: Always check weather and water conditions before swimming or boating. Stay informed and safe.
- Use safety equipment: Wear lifejackets when boating, especially for children. Access to safety gear can make a crucial difference.
Thanks to Government leadership and with the support of partners such as Bloomberg Philanthropies and CTFK , thousands of children have passed survival swimming courses and learn water safety skills.
WHO has supported the Government in policy development and implementation of the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Child Injury for 2021-2030 and the Multisectoral Collaboration Plan on Child Drowning Prevention for 2022-2030. Based on global best practice and evidence, WHO's recommendations for preventing drowning include multisectoral collaboration, strengthening public awareness of drowning, establishing a national drowning prevention plan, and collecting data.