Parvez Babul
July 25 is the World Drowning prevention Day. The theme of this year is: anyone can drown, no one should.
Keeping ahead the Day, the Center for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB) organized a seminar in the capital today. It mentioned the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted it’s first ever resolution on drowning titled: “Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention.”
The CIPRB highlighted in its document the extent of fatal drowning in Bangladesh are: all ages, 19,000 per year; children below 18 years, 14,500 per year; 40 children a day; children less than five years, 10,000 per year; 30 children a day.
Dr. Aminur Rahman, PhD, director, International Drowning Prevention and Research Division of CIPRB pointed out in his key note speech that Media should play important role to make awareness among all the people specially the parents, guardians of the children both in the village and urban areas to prevent drowning.
The discussants at the event observed that advocacy with the relevant stake holders, proper coordination with the ministries and public and private initiatives are the key areas need to focus soon.
