598 Sustainability and equity in drowning prevention: subsidizing survival swimming in Vietnam

<h3>Background</h3> Child drowning is the leading cause of death among children under 16 in Vietnam. Within Vietnam, the child drowning burden is highest among the poorest provinces. These provinces also face the most obstacles to accessing survival swim training and appropriate infrastructure for children. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aims of the policy analysis are to reduce child drowning death, promote program sustainability. Policy analysis: The child drowning prevention program funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies has implemented preventive measures at 12 provinces with high burden child drowning rate, in which more than 50% of children has come from poor households. Many districts and communes are hard to reach areas. Drowning prevention programs and policies that can address health inequities as well as secure the rights of safety for poor children in Vietnam. In order to make the program accessible and able to be implemented in poor, high burden provinces, GHAI are advocating for a national resolution for subsidization or free of survival swim class for children (30US$/child) who living in poor families or highest drowning burden area. <h3>Policy Implication</h3> The policy will support to narrow the gap of child equity and create financial sustainability to support the expansion of the child drowning prevention program and increased funding from provinces to implement the program that in line with the National Program on Child Injury Prevention for the period of 2021 - 2030. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Government subsidization in financing is a vital component to address health disparities among poor and disadvantaged children in realizing UN DP resolution.