Students in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Cần Thơ take part in a survival swimming skills class after the launch of the city's 2026 campaign encouraging people to practise swimming to prevent drowning on May 25 in Phú Lợi Ward. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kiên

MEKONG DELTA — As the summer holiday and rainy season begin, authorities across the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta are intensifying efforts to protect children from drowning, a persistent risk in the region criss-crossed by rivers and canals.

The threat remains a major concern, as children often spend more time near waterways during school holidays.

Local authorities have launched measures to raise public awareness, expand swimming lessons, equip children with water safety skills and strengthen monitoring at high-risk locations.

In Đồng Tháp Province, child drowning prevention has been promoted through community-based programmes, including swimming classes and safety education.

To further reduce drowning incidents this summer, the province has stepped up communication campaigns and continued implementing child safety initiatives.

The province aims to reduce child drowning deaths by 4 per cent this year compared with 2025. It has recorded four child drowning cases since the beginning of the year.

Most incidents occurred when children played near or swam in rivers, ponds and canals without adequate supervision or knowledge of water safety, according to local authorities.

In Vĩnh Long Province, where more than 614,000 children are under the age of 16, drowning prevention has become a priority after nine child drowning deaths were recorded last year.

During the first four months of this year, another three children lost their lives in similar incidents.

In response, the Vĩnh Long People's Committee has instructed departments, agencies and local authorities to organise safe summer activities and create favourable conditions for children to learn swimming, injury prevention skills and disaster response techniques.

Local authorities have also inspected hazardous locations, installed warning signs and barriers, and expanded communication campaigns and first-aid training in high-risk communities.

Other provinces and Cần Thơ have also stepped up efforts to protect children from drowning.

In Cần Thơ, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has launched a campaign encouraging residents to practise swimming as a means of drowning prevention in 2026.

Trần Thị Hồng Vân, Deputy Chairwoman of Phú Lợi Ward People's Committee in the city, said: “The locality is working with schools, youth organisations and swimming centres to promote the benefits of learning to swim, encourage students to join swimming classes, provide drowning prevention skills and integrate injury prevention education into summer activities and youth movements.”

In An Giang Province, local authorities have implemented coordinated measures to reduce child injuries and drowning, including communication campaigns, swimming lessons, water safety training and inspections of hazardous areas.

Võ Thị Thúy An, Deputy Chairwoman of the Vĩnh Thuận Commune People's Committee in An Giang, said: “At the start of summer, the commune strengthens drowning prevention communications, especially among families with young children and households where parents work far from home and children are cared for by grandparents.

"Villages are also instructed to identify suitable locations for free swimming classes to ensure children's safety during the holiday period.”

Trần Thu Sương, Deputy Chairwoman of the Vĩnh Bình Commune People's Committee in An Giang, stressed the critical role of parents in preventing tragedies.

“Families remain the most important factor in ensuring children's safety. Parents should not leave younger children in the care of older siblings if they are not capable of responding to dangerous situations,” she said.

On May 18, the Ministry of Health issued an urgent directive to provinces and centrally run cities nationwide, calling for stronger action to prevent injuries and drowning among children during the summer and rainy season.

The ministry noted that although child drowning prevention efforts have achieved positive results in recent years, serious incidents continue to occur.

With schools closed for the summer and heavy rains approaching, the risk is expected to increase, particularly around rivers, streams, ponds, flooded areas, reservoirs and informal recreational sites that do not meet safety standards.

The ministry urged local authorities to strengthen communication and education campaigns targeting families, schools and communities.

It also called for inspections of hazardous locations, the installation of warning signs and barriers, and the organisation of safe summer activities that allow children to learn swimming, water safety skills and disaster response measures. — VNS