World Drowning Prevention Day
There is an urgent need for public health campaigns to raise awareness about drowning risks and prevention measures. While many drowning incidents in Africa involve fishers, recent adverse weather conditions and flooding have increased the urgency for public education on drowning prevention and emergency response. Although accurate data on drowning deaths in Africa is scarce, the World Health Organisation estimates over 200,000 drowning deaths worldwide each year, with the majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Alarmingly, many of these deaths are underreported or misclassified, obstructing effective policy-making and resource allocation. Therefore, raising awareness and improving data accuracy are critical steps toward reducing drowning deaths in Africa.
Drowning deaths are a critical but often overlooked public health threat in Africa. This issue is neglected due to a lack of awareness, overshadowed by other health crises like malaria and HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, many view drowning as an unfortunate accident, not a preventable problem, which hinders effective prevention and response efforts. In many low- and middle-income areas across Africa, both adults and children frequently engage in water-related activities like fishing, agriculture, bathing, washing clothes, or fetching water. These interactions with water bodies significantly heighten their risk of drowning. The lack of maintenance and safety measures around these areas, including the poor provision of bridges, boats, and piers, further exacerbates the risk. Additionally, increasingly severe weather events, such as floods and storm surges, are causing more frequent and intense drowning incidents. Climate change has led to unpredictable changes in water levels in rivers and lakes, creating hazardous conditions for nearby communities.
It should also be noted that in regions where drowning is prevalent, access to emergency medical services and healthcare facilities is severely limited. This contributes to higher fatality rates among drowning victims, exacerbated by the absence of follow-up rehabilitation services, leading to long-term health issues for survivors. In some instances, drowning cases go unreported, underreported or misclassified, resulting in inadequate data that hampers effective policy-making and resource allocation. Most notably, there is a significant gap in swimming education and insufficient public health outreach on drowning prevention. This has led to a lack of community water safety programmes and awareness initiatives, leaving both adults and children ill-prepared to manage water-related emergencies.
Addressing this neglect requires establishing robust systems to report and track drowning incidents. This data is crucial for understanding the problem’s scope and crafting effective interventions. Currently, drowning lacks priority in health policies due to insufficient evidence. By improving data collection, governments can prioritise drowning prevention in national safety agendas, allocating necessary resources. It further makes it possible to enhance collaboration between governments and non-governmental organisations, which is essential for comprehensive prevention strategies.
There is also a greater need for public education campaigns to increase awareness of drowning risks and promote water safety. The most important thing to remember is that drowning is preventable. Preventing drowning is achievable through creating awareness, research and data expansion, and implementing life-saving solutions. By recognising drowning as a significant public health issue and taking concerted action, Africa can mitigate this neglected risk factor and save countless lives.
