HÀ NỘI – The Việt Nam News multimedia team won first prize in the Best Multimedia Reporting category at the inaugural Global Drowning Prevention Reporting Challenge 2026 for a video highlighting Việt Nam’s efforts to prevent child drowning.

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the World Health Organisation (WHO), organised the challenge, which involved 60 journalists from seven countries: Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, India, Bangladesh, Việt Nam and the Philippines.

The participating journalists have taken part in GHAI’s drowning prevention journalism training workshops over the past few years.

The 5-minute-18-second video, titled ‘More than Swimming’, features a free swimming club in Hà Nội that has helped hundreds of children learn swimming and essential water-survival skills.

It also highlights how the club’s community-driven approach complements broader national efforts to prevent child drowning and protect young lives across Việt Nam.

Nguyễn Thị Lê Hương and Đoàn Minh Anh were the core members of the Việt Nam News team that produced the video.

The second prize in the Best Multimedia Reporting category went to journalist Alpana Begum of Daily Bangladesh Pratidin and Somoy TV.

Four other journalists won first and second prizes in two additional categories, Best Feature Story and Best News Report.

"Journalists from seven countries sent in an impressive line-up of stories,” said Lopa Ghosh, Senior Advisor on Policy and Strategic Communications, GHAI, a jury member.

“The strongest entries framed drowning as both a preventable tragedy and an intersectional issue, shaped by poverty, geography and access to safe infrastructure. They focused on local realities: children crossing Lake Bunyonyi to reach school in Uganda, the monsoon months in Bangladesh when children are at high risk of drowning and Việt Nam's shift from swimming-lesson projects to national policy," she added.

A photo of a training session at the Red Caps Swimming Club in Hà Nội that was featured in the video. VNS Photo Lê Minh

The winning journalists will receive Certificates of Recognition. GHAI will also highlight their achievements through a news article and social media promotion, while showcasing their work to the global drowning prevention community, including changemakers and development partners from Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO and other organisations.

Vandana Shah, Vice President, Health Systems Strengthening, of GHAI, noted that the Reporting Challenge aimed to encourage journalists in countries with high burdens of drowning to keep the issue in the public eye.

“We applaud all of the journalists for their incredible work and in-depth stories that pair data and statistics with human stories from affected families to help policymakers and the public recognise drowning as a preventable threat,” she said. VNS

Reporters Nguyễn Thị Lê Hương (second from the right) and Đoàn Minh Anh (first from the right) film at an event. VNS Photo Lê Minh