As many as 259 children, aged between seven and 14, joined a swimming competition in the southern province of Đồng Tháp in October last year. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Văn Trí

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has approved a programme to prevent and manage children’s accidents and injuries for the period 2021-2030.

The programme’s objective is to reduce the number of children having accidents and injuries, particularly drowning and traffic accidents.

The programme aims to reduce the rate of childhood accidents and injuries from 500 per 100,000 children to 5 per 100,000 by 2030.

This will include an annual reduction of from five to ten per cent in the number of children killed and injured in road traffic accidents.

As part of the programme 15,000 schools will meet Safe School standards by 2030.

The programme will also strive to have 95 per cent of children aged from six to 16 fully aware of how to behave safely on and near roads, and to ensure that 60 per cent of children aged from six to 16 can swim.

It will also look to make sure that all village and school health workers know first aid for children and how to treat accidents and injuries.

All provinces and cities will be required to collect information and data on child accidents and injuries.

Provinces and cities will pilot and replicate the programme to guide and educate children on the skills necessary to prevent and tackle children’s accidents and injuries.

To achieve these results the programme will strengthen communication and education to raise awareness, knowledge and skills on accident and injury prevention and management in communities and schools. — VNS