To mark the World Drowning Prevention Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called to “do one thing” to prevent drowning that claims over 236, 000 lives each year and considered one of the leading causes of death globally for children and young people ages 1–24, and the third leading cause of injury-related deaths overall.
“Do one thing” is the theme of World Drowning Prevention Day 2022 organized on July 25 every year to raise awareness of the catastrophic and long-term effects of drowning on families and communities, and also life-saving ways.
More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with children under the age of 5 being at highest risk, says the WHO press release.
Many countries in the world have committed to drowning prevention programmes. Particularly, Bangladesh has started a 3-year program to reduce drowning among children throughout the country.
As part of the program, the government will take over the 2,500 daycares established and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies since 2012, and will expand the program by adding an additional 5 500 daycares to provide supervision to 200,000 children ages 1–5 years, added WHO.
Meanwhile, observing the day, WHO and international partners will host a global virtual webinar event on 27 July to discuss approaches to working across the UN system to prevent drowning and showcase the “one thing” partners from around the world have committed to for preventing drowning in their communities.
