Omanghana
The World Health Organization has launched a new technical package designed to help governments prevent drowning and reduce global fatalities by 35% before 2035.
Known as PROTECT, the framework presents seven evidence-based strategies covering infrastructure, rescue services, occupational safety, water transport, swimming education, childcare and disaster preparedness.
The package was unveiled in Accra on July 23, ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day, observed annually on July 25. Ghana was selected to host the launch in recognition of its growing commitment to water safety and drowning prevention.
This year’s global campaign was held under the theme “Unite to Turn the Tide,” emphasizing that preventing drowning requires cooperation among governments, communities, development organizations and the private sector.
More Than 300,000 Lives Lost Annually
Drowning claims more than 300,000 lives worldwide every year, equivalent to approximately 30 deaths every hour, according to WHO estimates.
More than 90% of the fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries, where communities frequently depend on rivers, lakes and other open water sources for transportation, fishing, agriculture and household activities.
Many deaths also occur in wells, swimming pools and domestic water-storage containers, demonstrating that drowning is not limited to oceans and large rivers.
Children and adolescents face some of the greatest risks. Nearly one-quarter of global drowning victims are children under five, while drowning remains among the 10 leading causes of death for children between five and 14 years old.
In rural communities, children may be exposed to irrigation canals, ponds, uncovered wells and water-storage facilities without adequate barriers or adult supervision.
Ghana Records an Estimated 1,100 Deaths Annually
WHO estimates that approximately 1,100 people die from drowning in Ghana every year, representing an average of about three deaths per day.
Children and young adults are disproportionately affected. Risks are particularly high in fishing communities, settlements near rivers and lakes, flood-prone areas and places where canoes or ferries serve as important forms of public transportation.
The launch in Accra positions Ghana as a potential regional leader in developing coordinated water-safety policies. It also provides the country with an opportunity to integrate drowning prevention into public health, education, transport and disaster-management programs.
Across the wider African Region, approximately 66,000 people die from drowning annually. Africa continues to record the highest drowning mortality rate among WHO regions, with children accounting for more than half of the deaths.
Climate Change Increasing Water-Related Risks
Climate change is contributing to a rise in drowning risks through more frequent floods, severe storms and other extreme weather events.
Flash floods can overwhelm drainage systems, sweep people and vehicles into fast-moving water and cut off communities from emergency services. Coastal flooding and severe storms also increase the danger faced by fishing crews, ferry passengers and people living near waterways.
Heatwaves present another risk because more people may enter rivers, lakes and beaches to cool down, sometimes without adequate swimming ability or supervision.
WHO says urbanization, migration, informal employment and increasing dependence on water transport are also changing patterns of exposure, making stronger prevention policies increasingly urgent.
Seven Strategies Under the PROTECT Framework
The name PROTECT represents seven interconnected areas in which governments can strengthen policies, laws and safety systems.
| PROTECT domain | Main objective |
|---|---|
| Physical infrastructure | Create safer environments around water |
| Rescue and resuscitation | Strengthen bystander and professional response |
| Occupational safety | Protect people working in or near water |
| Transport safety | Improve safety for ferries, boats and other vessels |
| Education | Teach swimming and water-safety skills |
| Childcare systems | Improve supervision and protection for young children |
| Threat preparedness | Prepare communities for floods and other emergencies |
Physical Infrastructure
Authorities can reduce exposure by installing barriers around hazardous water sources, including wells, swimming pools, canals and water-storage facilities.
Proper drainage, warning signs and controlled access to high-risk excavation sites can also prevent accidental falls. Infrastructure policies are particularly important in areas where children live or play close to open water.
Rescue and Resuscitation
Communities need trained bystanders and professional responders capable of conducting safe rescues and providing immediate resuscitation.
Training should emphasize that unprepared people must not enter dangerous water and place themselves at risk. Rescue equipment, emergency communication systems and rapid transport to medical facilities are also important components of an effective response.
Occupational Safety
People working in fishing, maritime transport, construction and agriculture face regular exposure to water-related hazards.
Governments and employers can reduce fatalities by enforcing safety standards, providing suitable protective equipment and ensuring that workers receive emergency training.
Water-Transport Standards
Passengers and crews need access to properly fitted lifejackets, while authorities must enforce vessel capacity and maintenance requirements.
Boat operators should be trained and licensed, weather conditions should be monitored, and commercial ferries must be subjected to regular safety inspections.
Swimming and Water-Safety Education
WHO recommends age-appropriate instruction in basic swimming and survival skills for school-aged children.
Water-safety education can help children recognize hazards, respond appropriately during emergencies and avoid dangerous attempts to rescue others. Programs must be delivered in controlled environments by trained instructors.
Childcare and Supervision
Supervised childcare programs can protect young children in communities where caregivers work near farms, fisheries or other water sources.
Household storage containers should be covered, while parents and guardians must closely supervise children around baths, wells, ponds and other bodies of water.
Flood and Emergency Preparedness
Governments should establish early-warning systems and ensure that communities understand how to respond to flood alerts.
Preparedness plans should identify evacuation routes, high-risk populations, emergency shelters and communication channels. Rescue agencies also need appropriate boats, protective equipment and trained personnel.
Prevention Requires More Than the Health Sector
WHO has emphasized that drowning prevention cannot be assigned solely to health ministries.
Education authorities are needed to introduce water-safety lessons. Transport and maritime agencies must regulate boats and ferries, while local governments should enforce barriers and building standards around hazardous water sites.
Disaster-management agencies are responsible for flood preparedness, early warnings and emergency response. Fisheries, labor and occupational-safety institutions must also protect people whose livelihoods depend on working around water.
“Drowning prevention isn’t the job of one ministry; it belongs to everyone,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the launch.
From Guidance to National Action
The PROTECT package is intended to help countries develop or strengthen national legislation, policies and regulatory systems. Its recommendations can be adapted to different economic, geographical and cultural conditions.
For Ghana, implementation could include a national assessment of drowning hotspots, stronger enforcement of water-transport regulations and improved data collection on fatal and non-fatal incidents.
Public and donor funding could also be directed toward lifejackets, rescue equipment, childcare programs, swimming instruction and flood-warning systems.
The framework builds on the first Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention, launched in 2025 by the WHO-hosted Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention.
Source: Omanghana
