KATHMANDU: World Drowning Prevention Day was observed in Nepal for the first time in Gadhimai Municipality of Rautahat district, on Tuesday.
The day was observed with the collaborative efforts of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nepal and Nexus Institute of Research and Innovation (NIRI Nepal).
According to WHO estimates, around 1,500 people drown every year in Nepal, even with those deaths being completely preventable. Despite this, these deaths have been largely neglected. So far, Nepal does not have a water safety strategy to deal with premature deaths from drowning, and therefore, no initiatives are in place to address this situation. In its present state, the only rescue and preventive measures are being undertaken by the Armed Police Force (APF) in case of natural flooding disasters or other water-related incidents.
Globally, countries like the UK, Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, India and Malaysia have been working tirelessly to reduce the number of drowning deaths. Due to the uproar in these countries, the United Nations and WHO have been organising World Drowning Prevention Day as an annual event on July 25 since 2021.
The day was observed for the first time in Nepal in Gadhimai with the aim to kickstart and facilitate drowning prevention measures from a local level in Nepal. In this programme, government authorities like the Department of Health, Department of Physical Infrastructure, Department of Education, and Nepal Police came together to actively participate and discuss appropriate drowning prevention measures. Moreover, the Chamber of Commerce, NGOs, youth leaders, children groups, and FCHVs put forward their commitment to working on drowning prevention at the community level. As an expert, Bhagabati Sedain presented the best practices for drowning prevention and its application in the Nepali context. She also mentioned the importance of the roles of different stakeholders in its prevention.
[gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="39887,39886"]
Anuradha Shrestha, Disability Inclusion and Rehabilitation Officer at WHO Nepal, mentioned that WHO is actively working towards drowning prevention globally and is also interested in collaborating with both local and federal level stakeholders and ready to provide support. She also expressed her gratitude for organising a programme on the occasion of World Drowning Prevention Day.
Similarly, Dr Kamalesh Yadav, an NCD/MH officer from WHO Nepal stated an urgent need to address the drowning issue in Nepal by working towards its prevention. He further mentioned the multi-sectoral nature of this issue, with his willingness to collaboratively work towards the issue with other relevant stakeholders.
Dr Puspa Raj Pant, Senior researcher and Member of NIRI Nepal, who virtually participated in the programme, stated that numerous children in the country drown while playing. He sent a message stating that ensuring proper surveillance measures, as well as preventive measures like the closing of wells with lids and construction of water barriers, will be imperative to reducing child drowning deaths.
Suraj Parajuli, Administrative Officer of NIRI Nepal, highlighted that it is urgent to work on drowning prevention with multisectoral collaborations. He further stated that raising massive awareness in the community and requesting local authorities for drowning prevention were the major objectives of the programme. He highly appreciated the mayor’s and other community leaders’ commitment towards drowning prevention in the community.
As for other stakeholders, Ram Adhar Yadav, Section Officer of Yamuna Rural Municipality in Rautahat, expressed his commitment to include the risk of drowning and ways of prevention in the education system. Likewise, members of Nepal Police mentioned that they have been working towards different rescue measures to prevent drowning. Similarly, members of APF Nepal urged the authorities to help improve their current rescue resources to ensure a steep decline in drowning deaths in the days to come.
Youth representatives from Gadhimai sent a message to stakeholders urging them to take the initiative to address this problem urgently and expressed their willingness to collaborate to prevent drowning. Lalita Yadav, spokesperson for NGOs, stated that for an issue as frequent as drowning, there currently is a lack of responsibility shown by relevant authorities, which calls for commitment from all sectors. She also stated an important point: while they might be committed, they would also need technical and expert support to ensure the effectiveness of their future endeavours.
Gadhimai Municipality Mayor Shyam Yadav took pride in hosting the first programme on drowning prevention in the district which is a high-risk zone for drowning in the country. He said that local authorities in the vicinity will start working on the issue from this exact moment, with plans of coordinating among government line agencies in the near future. He remarked, "Since drowning cases are extremely alarming in the entire Madhesh Province, there is a need to expand our efforts to prevent such incidents."
The programme concluded with all ward chairpersons within the municipality signing the program banner, symbolising their commitment and the successful first programme conducted in Nepal.
READ ALSO:
Globally, countries like the UK, Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, India and Malaysia have been working tirelessly to reduce the number of drowning deaths. Due to the uproar in these countries, the United Nations and WHO have been organising World Drowning Prevention Day as an annual event on July 25 since 2021.
The day was observed for the first time in Nepal in Gadhimai with the aim to kickstart and facilitate drowning prevention measures from a local level in Nepal. In this programme, government authorities like the Department of Health, Department of Physical Infrastructure, Department of Education, and Nepal Police came together to actively participate and discuss appropriate drowning prevention measures. Moreover, the Chamber of Commerce, NGOs, youth leaders, children groups, and FCHVs put forward their commitment to working on drowning prevention at the community level. As an expert, Bhagabati Sedain presented the best practices for drowning prevention and its application in the Nepali context. She also mentioned the importance of the roles of different stakeholders in its prevention.
[gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="39887,39886"]
Anuradha Shrestha, Disability Inclusion and Rehabilitation Officer at WHO Nepal, mentioned that WHO is actively working towards drowning prevention globally and is also interested in collaborating with both local and federal level stakeholders and ready to provide support. She also expressed her gratitude for organising a programme on the occasion of World Drowning Prevention Day.
Similarly, Dr Kamalesh Yadav, an NCD/MH officer from WHO Nepal stated an urgent need to address the drowning issue in Nepal by working towards its prevention. He further mentioned the multi-sectoral nature of this issue, with his willingness to collaboratively work towards the issue with other relevant stakeholders.
Dr Puspa Raj Pant, Senior researcher and Member of NIRI Nepal, who virtually participated in the programme, stated that numerous children in the country drown while playing. He sent a message stating that ensuring proper surveillance measures, as well as preventive measures like the closing of wells with lids and construction of water barriers, will be imperative to reducing child drowning deaths.
Suraj Parajuli, Administrative Officer of NIRI Nepal, highlighted that it is urgent to work on drowning prevention with multisectoral collaborations. He further stated that raising massive awareness in the community and requesting local authorities for drowning prevention were the major objectives of the programme. He highly appreciated the mayor’s and other community leaders’ commitment towards drowning prevention in the community.
As for other stakeholders, Ram Adhar Yadav, Section Officer of Yamuna Rural Municipality in Rautahat, expressed his commitment to include the risk of drowning and ways of prevention in the education system. Likewise, members of Nepal Police mentioned that they have been working towards different rescue measures to prevent drowning. Similarly, members of APF Nepal urged the authorities to help improve their current rescue resources to ensure a steep decline in drowning deaths in the days to come.
Youth representatives from Gadhimai sent a message to stakeholders urging them to take the initiative to address this problem urgently and expressed their willingness to collaborate to prevent drowning. Lalita Yadav, spokesperson for NGOs, stated that for an issue as frequent as drowning, there currently is a lack of responsibility shown by relevant authorities, which calls for commitment from all sectors. She also stated an important point: while they might be committed, they would also need technical and expert support to ensure the effectiveness of their future endeavours.
Gadhimai Municipality Mayor Shyam Yadav took pride in hosting the first programme on drowning prevention in the district which is a high-risk zone for drowning in the country. He said that local authorities in the vicinity will start working on the issue from this exact moment, with plans of coordinating among government line agencies in the near future. He remarked, "Since drowning cases are extremely alarming in the entire Madhesh Province, there is a need to expand our efforts to prevent such incidents."
The programme concluded with all ward chairpersons within the municipality signing the program banner, symbolising their commitment and the successful first programme conducted in Nepal.
READ ALSO:
Published Date: July 26, 2023, 12:00 am
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