Ghana loses approximately 1,400 lives to drowning each year, according to a new Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention released by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the World Health Organization (WHO). The alarming figure sheds light on a growing but often overlooked public health crisis in the country.
The report, unveiled at a launch event in Geneva, Switzerland, highlighted the severe impact of drowning, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where 90% of global drowning deaths occur. Kelly Larson, Head of Injury Prevention at Bloomberg Philanthropies, emphasized the urgent need for Ghana to prioritize drowning prevention efforts.
“In Ghana, the lack of drowning data has hampered the ability to fully comprehend the scale of the problem and implement targeted interventions,” she stated, expressing hope that ongoing efforts would reverse the trend through evidence-based solutions and partnerships.
Groundbreaking research conducted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), revealed that drowning incidents in Ghana are most prevalent in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Children and young adults remain the most vulnerable groups affected.
Based on these findings, Bloomberg Philanthropies is partnering with local and international organizations to support data collection, public education campaigns, and life-saving interventions. These include swim training programs, lifeguard deployment, and community-based water safety initiatives in high-risk areas.
Ghana is expected to benefit from successful drowning prevention models previously piloted in countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Uganda. In Accra, programs are already underway to introduce basic water safety training, swim instruction at popular beaches, and studies to assess the impact of lifeguards in reducing fatalities.
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Larson stressed the importance of collaboration, noting, “We are just getting started in Ghana, but the goal is to demonstrate how a combination of data-driven interventions and government commitment can save lives.”
The Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention marks a crucial step toward addressing the crisis, providing governments with detailed recommendations and strategies. For Ghana, the report serves as a foundation to develop a national strategy focused on improved data collection, public education, and community-led safety initiatives to reduce drowning incidents across the country.