Africa: WHO Launches Seven Strategies to Prevent Drowning

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a World Health Organization press release from Geneva dated 23 July 2026, reported that WHO has introduced a new technical package ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July. The package is intended to help governments and communities apply seven evidence-based measures aimed at reducing deaths from drowning worldwide.

According to the WHO release, drowning kills nearly 300,000 people each year and is still one of the top 10 causes of death for children aged 5 to 14. The agency said most drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, often in settings such as rivers, lakes, wells, water storage containers and pools. WHO also linked rising risks to climate change, noting that floods, storms and heatwaves can increase exposure to dangerous water conditions.

The seven-part package, called PROTECT, turns WHO’s Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention into policy guidance. Its areas cover safer physical infrastructure around water, rescue and resuscitation capacity, occupational safety, standards for water transport, swimming and water-safety education, child-care and safeguarding systems, and preparedness for floods and other emergencies. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described drowning prevention as a shared responsibility across sectors.

The launch is taking place in Ghana, which WHO said reflects the country’s growing commitment to water safety. The release estimated that about 1,100 people die from drowning annually in Ghana, with children and young adults especially affected. WHO and Bloomberg Philanthropies also highlighted more than a decade of joint work on drowning prevention, with this year’s theme, “Unite to turn the tide,” calling for coordinated action.