VietNamNet Bridge - According to the Agency for Child Protection and Care, every day there are 7-8 children who die of accidents. The annual average number is up to 6,000-7,000, with summer as the peak season.

Summer is the peak season for child accidents.

This morning, May 27, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs held a press conference to introduce the month of action for children in 2013.

Director of the Agency for Child Protection and Care – Mr. Nguyen Hai Huu said that the protection, care and education of children in Vietnam is still limited.

The neonatal mortality and stunting malnutrition rates in Vietnam remain high compared to other countries with similar economic conditions. The number of children who are drug addicts, work in hazardous conditions and street children tends to increase. Sexual abuse and child violence takes place complicatedly.

In addition, children's accidents and injuries are pressing issues, particularly in the summer. The reason is that children are out of school and go out more without the strict management of their teachers and parents.

"Every day there are 7-8 kids who die due to accidents, each year the number is 6,000-7,000 deaths," Huu said and said the plan on accident prevention had been submitted to the government.

The official said that swimming would have been brought into school. Vietnamese schools are teaching children to run and play balls but not teach them swimming lessons while the number of kids drowning is very high in Vietnam.

"It is not too difficult to build swimming pools. In the mountains, the local governments can mobilize people to dig ponds or embankment to create swimming pools for children. In cities, we need to have free swimming pool for kids, where they learn swimming," Huu proposed.

Le Ha