WHY IN NEWS?

WHO on 23^rd July launched its first Regional Status Report on Drowning Prevention in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. This report said that nearly two-thirds of all global deaths due to drowning occur in the Asia Pacific region.

About:

• Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury and death worldwide and it accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths.
• This report by WHO states that Middle and low income countries account for more than 90% of all the unintentional drowning deaths in the world. Also over 50% of the world’s total drowning occurs in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions.
• In 48 of the 85 countries which have data on drowning, it is among the top five causes of death for children who are under the 15 years of age.
• Drowning accounts for 75% of all deaths during flood disasters. Many countries in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are vulnerable to this form of disaster.