On World Drowning Prevention Day, the World Health Organization says almost 236,000 people die of drowning every year globally.
Every year in Afghanistan, as the weather warms up, the number of deaths due to drowning in rivers increases because young people and teenagers go for swimming in summer.
Several people have drowned and died in Laghman, Kunar, Nangarhar, Panjsher and Badakhshan during the past few days.
WHO said: “Drowning has caused over 2.5 million deaths in the last decade. The overwhelming majority of these deaths (90%) happen in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged 1–4 years, followed by children aged 5–9 years.”
In 2023, the 76th World Health Assembly adopted its first ever resolution on drowning prevention.
The resolution accepts the invitation of the United Nations General Assembly for WHO to coordinate actions within the UN system on drowning prevention and facilitate the observance of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July each year.
To mark this year’s World Drowning Prevention Day, WHO will continue to focus on raising awareness on drowning as a public health issue, reminding people that anyone can drown, but no one should.
The organization is also raising awareness on the six evidence-based, low-cost drowning prevention interventions that countries and organizations can use to drastically reduce the risk of drowning.
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