WHO to Launch Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention
Described as the first report of its kind to provide country-specific data on drowning rates and prevention efforts, the 2024 report will analyze information from 139 nations, including Uganda.
The World Health Organization (WHO) will unveil its highly anticipated Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention 2024 on Friday, December 13.
The virtual launch event marks a decade since the release of WHO’s first global report on drowning, a leading but often overlooked cause of death worldwide.
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Globally, drowning is presented as an incident rather than a public health issue, thus limiting deliberate intervention efforts.
Described as the first report of its kind to provide country-specific data on drowning rates and prevention efforts, the 2024 report will analyze information from 139 nations, including Uganda.
WHO anticipates the findings will offer valuable insights to policymakers, health professionals, and advocates striving to reduce drowning fatalities.
The significance of the report is particularly urgent for Uganda, where drowning remains a critical public health issue.
According to the Uganda Police Marine Unit, the country loses an estimated 436 lives annually to drowning in districts near water bodies.
Mayuge District, for example, reports over 24 drowning deaths per 100,000 people.
The 2023 Police Annual Crime Report further revealed that 138 drowning fatalities occurred in Uganda's water bodies, accounting for more than 65% of all maritime incidents.
These grim statistics have spurred action. The Makerere School of Public Health, in partnership with Reach A Hand Uganda and the Ministry of Water and Environment, launched a comprehensive drowning prevention program to address the crisis.
The programme emphasizes education, community outreach, and enhanced safety measures for high-risk populations.
Recent tragedies highlight the urgency of such interventions. On November 24, 2024, police recovered the body of an unidentified man from River Mpologoma in Budaka District.
Just three days later, a heroic rescue operation turned fatal when UNRA engineer Hassan Yahaya drowned in River Tangi while attempting to save passengers stranded in a flooded taxi along the Pakwach–Nwoya Road.
Globally, organisations such as the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) have over the years taken to supporting civil society organisations and advocates in more than 40 countries to pass public health policies that save lives, reduce disease and prevent injuries.
One of the issues GHAI has been focused on in recent years has been drowning prevention. The organisation has partnered with several agencies to train journalists from around the world - including Uganda - on reporting drowning accidents.
The WHO report aims to inspire coordinated global efforts to tackle drowning, which claims an estimated 236,000 lives annually worldwide.
Uganda’s ongoing initiatives, informed by research and local partnerships, are seen as a model for addressing this critical issue.
As WHO emphasized, "The report will be an important tool to inform and enhance drowning prevention efforts worldwide." With data and actionable insights, it is poised to catalyze meaningful change, offering hope for safer waterways and fewer lives lost.
