In a significant move to enhance global aquatic safety, the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) has this week adopted its first ever resolution on drowning prevention - requesting governments and their partners, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), to accelerate action on drowning prevention.
Meeting on 29th May in Geneva, Switzerland, the 194 members of the WHA agreed to set up a Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention and prepare a global status report to assess the impact of drowning worldwide. The status report will inform policymakers of critical information to guide them.
A resolution sponsored by the Governments of Bangladesh and Ireland invited the WHO to coordinate action on drowning prevention within the United Nations system and among relevant UN entities, asking member states to study national drowning scenarios within each country and implement policies and programmes to reduce risks.
An estimated 236 000 people die from drowning each year, constituting 7% of all injury-related deaths. Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged one to four years, followed by children aged five to nine years. Both within and between countries, rates for drowning are highest among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged members of society. As such, the resolution highlights the strong relationship between drowning and the social determinants of health.
Dr Etienne Krug, WHO Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health, noted “drowning has the greatest impact among the world’s poorest people.
“Following the COVID-19 pandemic, rising poverty is exacerbating inequalities in drowning risk. At WHO, we will continue to work across sectors and with various partners to prevent drowning and save lives.”
A draft decision urged member states to “report on progress in the implementation of this resolution to the WHA in 2025, to include reporting on the global status report on drowning prevention and reflect on contributions to the agenda of the 13th General Programme of Work, 2019-2025.”
The proposal noted that, subsequently, reporting on achievements of the global alliance and intersections with broader agendas, including the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, should also be included in 2029.
The proposal asked the WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus to “encourage research on the context and risk factors for drowning, facilitate adaptation of effective drowning prevention and safe rescue and resuscitation measures that can be applied in local communities, and evaluate the effectiveness of drowning prevention programmes.”
Based on UN General Assembly resolution 75/273 (2021), the WHO continues to lead preparations for World Drowning Prevention Day, held annually on 25th July.
This global advocacy event seeks to remember the lives lost to drowning and increase knowledge on safety in and around water.
The 2023 World Conference on Drowning Prevention is being held in Perth from 4th to 7th December 2023.
Click here to read the details of the resolution passed by WHO.
Click here for more information in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.
Images: A near drowning incident (top, credit: pxhere) and this week's 76th World Health Assembly (below, credit: WHO/Twitter).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
Read more from this author
Related Articles
29th May 2023 - Queensland Budget will include $4.8 million for new SwimStart program
24th May 2023 - Australian Swim Schools Association highlights consistency as key to maintaining children’s aquatic skills
19th May 2023 - AUSTSWIM to hold its ‘Soak it Up’ International Conference ‘Reimagined’ 2023 on the Gold Coast
2nd May 2023 - Counting down to 2023 edition of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
25th April 2023 - 2023 Australian Swimming Championships delivers one of biggest events at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
12th April 2023 - Upcoming South East Queensland Water Safety Forum looks to reduce region’s drowning rate
21st March 2023 - Lynxight Drowning Prevention Technology enters the Australian market
4th March 2023 - Summer drownings figures reveal 90 deaths across Australia
24th February 2023 - New resolution for global drowning prevention championed by 60 nations
11th February 2023 - Drownings highlight need for education on rip currents
6th February 2023 - Victorian surfers save hundreds from drowning each year
13th January 2023 - World Aquatics concerned about swimming pool closures and restrictions
9th November 2022 - More than 500 children lose their lives to drowning over past two decades
21st October 2022 - World Health Organization reveals high cost of physical inactivity in first-ever global report
20th October 2022 - Swimming Australia announces new strategic partnership with Australian Swim Schools Association
7th June 2022 - Counting down to World Drowning Prevention Day 2022
17th December 2017 - Complacency surrounding Asian drowning epidemic also impacts Australia
31st October 2015 - World Health Organization backs 2015 World Conference on Drowning Prevention
24th December 2014 - UN report shows drowning claims over 40 people every hour in ‘needless loss of life’
1st July 2014 - Malaysia to host World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2015
2nd April 2008 - Drowning biggest killer of Asian children
