Holistic Health
Drowning prevention can save lives
Easy-to-implement measures will protect children and reduce economic losses
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) says that simple preventive measures could save hundreds of thousands of children from drowning and life-limiting in�uries while also providing financial benefits .
Drowning is a neglected public health threat that has caused more than 2 . � million deaths in the last decade , according to the WHO , with 90 percent of them taking place in low- and middle-income countries . Children between the ages of one and nine are the most likely victims of drowning , one of the leading causes of death among very young children in many countries in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific .
But small investments , such as day care services for children under six and the teaching of basic swimming skills to school-aged children , could save the lives of ��� , 000 children and prevent severe in�uries to 1�� , 000 drowning victims by 20�0 , according to the report Hidden depths : the global investment case for drowning prevention .
The accidental drowning of children aged one to four is often caused by lack of supervision while parents or guardians are busy doing housework or other daily tasks , meaning that day care could protect children when they are most at risk .
The greatest number of drownings is estimated to be preventable in India , China , Nigeria , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
“ By implementing effective preventive measures , increasing investments , and promoting awareness , we can save countless lives ,” said WHO Director-�eneral Dr Tedros Adhanom �hebreyesus on �uly 2� in a press release . “ As we observe World Drowning Prevention Day today , we ask countries and partners to �oin hands to make drowning prevention a global priority .”
Preventive measures could also help low- and middle-income countries avoid �S��00 billion in economic losses , providing benefits of �S�9 for each �S�1 invested . Fatal and non-fatal drownings remain a financial concern for some countries , leading them to lose about three percent of their �DP .
The WHO is now forging an international response by spearheading the �lobal Alliance for Drowning Prevention which will coordinate and improve preventive initiatives against drowning in collaboration with several partners , including Bloomberg .
“ Bloomberg Philanthropies has been working with our partners to implement proven life-saving solutions , like teaching basic swimming survival skills and providing child care . Now , by bringing together governments and partners from around the world , we can help spread this work and save many more lives ,” said Michael Bloomberg , founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and World Health Organization �lobal Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and In�uries , in a press release .
The report Hidden depths : the global investment case for drowning prevention estimates that inaction on drowning prevention might cause the deaths of � . 2 million people , mostly children , resulting in a loss to the global economy of about �S�� trillion by 20�0 .
“ These figures represent a tremendous health and economic burden that have remained hidden thus far , particularly for low- and middle-income countries . Drowning exacts a heavy toll that demands more attention , requiring a significant global scale-up in investment to prevent it ,” reads the report .
The greatest number of drownings is estimated to be preventable in India , China , Nigeria , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
24 ISSUE 5 | 2023 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com