National consultation workshop shapes multisectoral roadmap for drowning prevention

Lalitpur, Bagmati province - The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), with support from WHO Country Office, organized Nepal’s first national consultation workshop on drowning prevention in the presence of Honourable Minister of Health and Population Mr Pradip Paudel. The two-day workshop, held from 18 to 19 August, convened over 80 representatives from the MoHP, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs; provincial and local governments, including directors and representatives from seven provincial health directorates; security agencies; NGOs; academia; UN agencies; and high-burden provinces – Lumbini, Madhesh and Koshi – marking a significant step toward a coordinated public health response to drowning prevention. The workshop featured expert presentations, plenary discussions and thematic group work addressing the burden, risk factors and prevention strategies for drowning, particularly at the local level. Discussions focused on reviewing WHO recommendations, identifying context-specific interventions and developing a roadmap outlining institutional mechanisms, implementation sites and roles and responsibilities. The workshop concluded with a draft roadmap to be refined with WHO and partners and submitted to the MoHP for endorsement and implementation at provincial and local levels to advance systematic drowning prevention.