IN THIS ISSUE: Child Drowning Reduction Workshop Held in Vietnam, Safe Water Travel during Tet, Trade Exhibition Opportunities, Accommodation - Gold Coast Hotel, Vietnamese Cuisine

CHILD DROWNING REDUCTION WORKSHOP HELD IN VIETNAM

“Child Drowning represents 39.2 percent of all injury deaths in children aged 0–19 years in Vietnam,” said Dr Nguyen Trong An, Deputy Director – Child Protection and Care, from the Vietnamese Government’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Dr Nguyen was speaking at the Child Drowning Reduction Workshop in Hanoi on the 18 January 2011 and went on to say that many deaths occur “in close proximity to the home and whilst children aged 5–9 are playing unsupervised.”

Present at the workshop were representatives of the 15 Vietnamese provinces with the highest rates of child drowning. Also present were representatives of UNICEF Vietnam, International Life Saving Federation, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, WHO, Save the Children, Child Fund Vietnam, representatives of the National Assembly, and MoLISA. MoLISA has been enlisted by the Vietnamese government to coordinate a national response to child drowning as the leading cause of child mortality as part of its National Plan for Child Injury Prevention.

The workshop served as a six month progress review of the commitments made by the 15 provinces in July 2010 when they were asked by MoLISA and UNICEF to devise provincial plans of action for child drowning prevention. The plans include: training and skills in swimming and water safety, improving the environment, strengthening capacity of staff, strengthening and implementing laws.

Each province provided an account of progress including the main causes of child drowning in their province, progress in planning and implementation, and some suggestions on strategies for the future.

Most provinces attributed the high rates of child drowning to large family sizes, proximity to water used in farming, cooking and washing, high use of water craft without appropriate safety precautions, low rates of swimming and water safety skills, a general lack of awareness of drowning prevention and the impacts of flooding.

The challenges of teaching children swimming and water safety in rural and in some cases remote areas without access to swimming pools, skilled instructors and awareness across the community was a reoccurring theme.

Many provinces reported increases in public awareness achieved largely through engaging mass media and conducting specific campaigning. Interim figures suggested this was having an immediate impact, although all present understood the magnitude of the challenge of achieving a sustainable reduction in child drowning.

The workshop was delivered as part of the legacy activities of the World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2011 was held with financial support from the Australian Government. A summary report of the Vietnam Plan of Action for Child Drowning Prevention is being developed with assistance of UNICEF Vietnam for presentation at the conference.

The full story can be read here: http://www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention2011.org/content_common/ns-Child-Drowning-Reduction-Workshop-Held-In-Vietnam.seo

SAFE WATER TRAVEL DURING TET

Tet is the Vietnamese New Year. It is a time of renewal. It is a time of worship, of feasting, and a time to clean house and visit relatives and friends. It is also a time to return home.

To do that, many Vietnamese people travel on ferries and across Vietnam’s extensive waterways. For those not travelling, small boats are still relied upon to carry them across Vietnam’s hundreds of rivers and streams as they prepare for the upcoming festivities.

Due to the high levels of waterway traffic during Tet, the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport’s Traffic Safety Department has asked boat owners to ensure they are equipped with proper safety equipment and for passengers to carry their own life jackets during this Tet season.

In another proactive measure, the Ministry, in coordination with police, will inspect rescue and safety equipment at all major ferry terminals during this year’s Tet.

These initiatives come in an effort to prevent tragedies like the one on 27 January 2009. On that day, 40 people lost their lives when an overloaded ferry sank in Gianh River in Quang Binh province, central Vietnam. The passengers were from nearby Quang Hai village, crossing the river to buy supplies for festivities.

Thankfully, the number of waterway accident fatalities has dropped. According to the National Traffic Safety Committee, 146 people died from waterway accidents in 2010, 34 fewer than in 2009.

TRADE EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES

 
Would your business benefit from being a Trade Exhibitor at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2011?Opportunities exist for organisations to exhibit their products and services at the conference. The trade exhibit will be hosted at the Furama Convention Centre, in spacious, elegant and modern exhibition halls adjacent to the main auditorium. Morning and afternoon teas and lunches will be provided within the exhibition space, ensuring maximum exposure to conference delegates.

For more information, please visit: http://www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention2011.org/content_common/pg-Exhibition-Opportunities.seo    

ACCOMMODATION - GOLD COAST HOTEL

No matter where you stay along Danang Beach you’ll be in for a treat. Danang Beach was named by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s six most attractive beaches and for the budget conscious, accommodation can exceed even the most sanguine expectations – especially if you choose the Gold Coast Hotel.

Situated only minutes from the conference venue, the Gold Coast Hotel boasts modern French colonial architecture, a mixture of French and Indian interior design, simple but elegant accommodation and a restaurant featuring traditional Vietnamese, Western a’ la carte and Asian specialties.

Other services include a foreign exchange, laundry service, tours to heritage sites, coffee bar and a spa.

Rooms start at US$45 for the Superior room – a spacious first floor room with a view of the city and separate marble bathroom. At US$55 guests can choose a Deluxe room that features a king-size bed and choice of either a front side window or pool-side with balcony.

For more accommodation information, please visit: http://www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention2011.org/content_common/pg-accommodation.seo

VIETNAMESE CUISINE

The Vietnamese have wonderfully flavoursome food and recipes that often date back to their earliest times.
Each region has its own specialties featuring characteristics of local ingredients, but centrally located Danang, draws on culinary delights from across the country. Here is a glimpse of some especially appetising traditional Vietnamese cuisine that you are likely to find at many restaurants during your stay in Danang.

Water
The Vietnamese even make their water delicious. Traditionally, daily drinking water is made by boiling fresh or dried leaves, buds, flowers or seeds.

Banh Chung (Square Sticky Rice Cake)
Banh Chung is a food of legend and is believed to have been a part of Vietnamese culture since the ancient dynasties of the Hung Kings. Its shape symbolises the ancient belief that the earth is square.Making Banh Chung is time consuming and therefore often made when families come together for the New Year Tet festivities. High quality glutinous rice is the main ingredient, which is then combined with pork meat and green beans and wrapped in a square of bamboo leaves. The package is then boiled over a wood fire for 12 hours.  

Pho (Noodle Soup)
Pho is perhaps the dish that most epitomises Vietnamese cooking. Traditionally served with beef, modern variants will be served with chicken or pork. But purists will still insist on boiled beef.Rice paste, spring onions, ginger, vinegar, pepper and chilli are added to make a delicious broth that is a staple dish from Hanoi.

Com Hen (Rice with mussels)
Com Hen is a distinctive dish from Hue. River-caught mussels, green vegetables, broth, crispy pig skin, shredded pork and hot chilli are combined with a bowl of leftover rice to display the culinary skills of Hue women.Originally considered a dish for the poor, Com Hen is now enjoyed by all families.

IMPORTANT PLANNING DATES

Be sure to mark these important conference dates in your diary today.
10 to 13 May 2011 - World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2011

CONTACT DETAILS
Conference Organisers
Royal Life Saving Society - Australia
PO Box 558, Broadway NSW 2007
Phone: +61 2 8217 3111 Fax: +61 2 8217 3199
Email: WCDP2011@rlssa.org.au
Website: www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention2011.org