30 children die daily from drowning: study
Drowning accounts for 43 percent of deaths among children between the ages of one and four in Bangladesh, found a recent study.
Every day, 30 children under five, who haven't even grown enough to learn swimming, die from drowning, it found.
The study also revealed that Bangladesh has one of the highest fatal drowning rates in the world, where every year almost 13,000 children die from drowning.
The data were presented yesterday at an online event titled "National Dialogue on Drowning Prevention", jointly organised by Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Bangladesh ECD Network, Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB) and SoMaSHTe with support of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).
The chief guest of the event, Fazilatun Nessa Indira MP, said, "The government has already identified the child drowning deaths as a serious concern and prioritises prevention."
"Some isolated initiatives were started at different times in some districts. My ministry has submitted a DPP (Detailed Project Pro-forma) in relation to saving our children from drowning. It will be approved shortly," she said.
"The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs cannot implement drowning prevention activities alone. We need to collaborate with other ministries like education, health, local government and social welfare," she added.
Joining the event as chairperson, CAMPE Executive Director Rasheda K Choudhury said, "If the government engages NGOs in their drowning prevention programmes, it would be helpful to ensure maximum coverage with community participation."
"We hope the government will approve the drowning prevention strategy and DPP within a short period of time," she said.
CIPRB Deputy Executive Director Dr Aminur Rahman said, "We have seen that poverty, unawareness, and lack of institutional initiative are the main causes for drowning deaths among children. It occurs within 20 metres from home."
"Most incidents of child drowning occur in ditches and ponds in rural areas. Lack of supervision is a key risk factor for child drowning. Sixty percent accidents occur between 9am to 1pm, when parents are busy with family responsibility," he added.
The programme recommended that the government develop a national strategy to prevent child drowning, learning from proven interventions targeting those most prone to risk.
The speakers also suggested that a committed long-term investment based on learning from proven intervention facilities, such as community-based childcare centres, were essential to solve the problem.
The government should also promote best practices for childcare centres, focusing on creative incentives for maintaining quality and effective care, which will also help children develop their physical, intellectual and social capacities.
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