The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries in the South-East Asia Region to enhance efforts to prevent drowning, a leading cause of death that disproportionately affects children and vulnerable populations. According to WHO’s first Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention, the region recorded 83,000 drowning fatalities in 2021, accounting for 28% of the global drowning burden. This significant loss contributes to the nearly 30 lives lost to drowning every hour worldwide.
Nearly 43% drowning fatalities in the region involved children aged 14 years or younger. Drowning is the third leading cause of death for children aged 5–14 years and the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1–4 years.
“To save lives and ensure equitable safety for all, expanding and scaling up proven drowning preventive interventions across the Region is not just essential, but a moral imperative,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia on December 14.
Poverty, limited access to safety measures, and inadequate infrastructure exacerbate drowning risks, particularly in low-and middle-income countries.
Children face heightened vulnerabilities due to inadequate supervision, limited swimming skills, and lack of water safety knowledge.
For older children and adolescents, peer pressure, risk-taking behaviors, and substance use further increase their risk.
Children with disabilities face additional challenges in recognizing and responding to water hazards.
Non-fatal drowning incidents lead to severe long-term neurological complications and disabilities that require prolonged care.
The Regional Director said while most countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region have comprehensive drowning prevention strategies, much more needs to be done.
Enacting laws mandating life-jacket use, barriers around water hazards, and safe boating regulations have shown potential, though enforcement remains inconsistent in many countries.
Regulations restricting alcohol consumption near public water-bodies are lacking in many areas.
The Regional Director stressed the importance of strengthening governance and establishing a dedicated lead agency to oversee the implementation of drowning prevention activities. He also highlighted the need for improved cross-sectoral collaboration, better drowning data collection, and the adoption of evidence-based community interventions. According to Wazed, community programs that teach water safety, swimming, and rescue skills, provide supervised childcare, and incorporate flood risk management strategies are essential components of effective drowning prevention.
“Drowning prevention is fundamentally an issue of equity. By prioritizing vulnerable populations, fostering innovative leadership, and embracing global collaboration, countries can significantly reduce drowning deaths. With sustained commitment and collective action, we can ensure that everyone, everywhere, can live safely around water,” she said.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
