On this World Drowning Prevention Day, 25 July 2023, I would like to draw your attention to a pressing global issue that affects the lives of countless individuals every year. Drowning, a silent and preventable killer, continues to claim the lives of an estimated 236,000 people annually across the globe. Alarmingly, it ranks among the top ten causes of death for children and youth aged 1-24 years.
In our South-East Asia region, drowning has had devastating consequences. In 2019 alone, it caused 70,034 deaths, making our region the second-highest contributor to drowning deaths after WPRO in the worldwide. Taking note of the high global burden, on 29 May 2023, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted its first ever resolution on drowning prevention ‘Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention’ proposed by the Governments of Bangladesh and Ireland, and co-sponsored by at least 72 Member States. This resolution will provide impetus to strengthening drowning prevention.
It is crucial to note that drowning is not limited to coastal areas but can occur anywhere there is water, such as rivers, lakes, swimming pools, ditches, floods, and even transportation waterways. Drowning can happen in the mountain rivers and ponds of Himalayas to the deep oceans of Maldives. In fact, more than 90% of drowning deaths happen in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels, and swimming pools.
Furthermore, the effects of climate change, rising sea levels, environmental degradation, and unprotected waterways pose additional challenges to drowning prevention efforts. The increase in unprotected irrigation channels also amplifies the risk of drowning. These factors exacerbate the burden of drowning-related deaths and demand urgent action.
I am pleased to note that many countries in our region have taken substantial steps to implement WHO-recommended interventions. Bangladesh has implemented numerous low-cost interventions that not only impacted on reducing drowning deaths but also generated evidence for drowning prevention in low-income settings. Maldives have started developing a National Drowning Prevention Strategy and India has started developing of a National Injury Prevention Strategy which makes specific reference to drowning prevention. Other countries have also made substantial drowning prevention initiatives. These initiatives include promoting the use of barriers to control access to water, installing door gates, covering wells, and implementing mandatory fencing around water bodies. Furthermore, countries have been actively training school-aged children in basic water safety and rescue skills, as well as bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation techniques. While these efforts are commendable, it is essential to acknowledge that drowning remains an unrecognized threat to health and well-being, and much more needs to be done. The region has also regularly conducted data collection and launched the ‘Regional Status Reports on Drowning Prevention in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions" on 22 July 2021. WHO will continue to prioritize drowning prevention and keep it at the forefront of the political and national agenda. We need to work collectively to raise awareness, mobilize resources, and implement evidence-based interventions to prevent drowning and protect our communities.
World Drowning Prevention Day serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility and an opportunity for action. This year, under the overall theme of “Anyone can drown, no one should” WHO is inviting technical partners to: Do One Thing, Improve One Thing or Add One Thing ( https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-drowning-prevention-day/2023) to improve safety of people in and around water. This provides opportunities for all partners to expand on existing drowning prevention efforts, building on progress made to date. Let us seize this moment to unite our efforts, raise awareness, and take concrete actions to prevent drowning. Together, we can save lives, protect our communities, and work towards a world where no one loses their life to this preventable tragedy.