Geneva

Not by terrorism or malnutrition, the most preventable deaths in the world happen due to drowning!

This startling fact is highlighted in a report of the World Health Organization (WHO) that says over two million people have died of drowning in the decade of twenties.

This number is way more than the deaths due to malnutrition. Releasing the shocking figures on the eve of the the first World Prevention of Drowning Day on July 25, the WHO said that at least 236,000 people die by drowning every year. Drowning is one of the 10 leading causes of death for young people aged 1 to 24.

More than 90 percent of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells and domestic water storages in low- and middle-income countries. According to the WHO, half of drowning deaths occur in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. Huh.

Drowning has the highest rate of deaths per 100,000 persons. However, in the western Pacific, the African region comes after it. According to Etienne Krug, director of the WHO's Department of Social Determinants of Health, "Anyone can drown. No one should play with water."

"I welcome the occasion of the first World Drowning Prevention Day to increase attention and accelerate action by governments and their allies to avert the pain and suffering of drowning," he said.

World Drowning Prevention Day was called for by member states in April 2021 through the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution A 'RES' 75-273 in April 2021, which also invited the WHO to coordinate drowning prevention actions.

To mark World Prevention of Drowning Day, WHO and partner countries will host a virtual event on 28 July, titled "Global, National and Local Reflections on World Day to Prevent Drowning 2021."