Drowning: A neglected public health crisis
Rising seas, maximum cities, spiralling poverty and risky livelihoods, 120 million forcibly displaced people, children who make perilous journeys to reach schools – all these conditions are colliding to make death by drowning a haunting and increasingly frequent occurrence
A chilling incident in New Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar serves as a stark reminder that drowning is a preventable tragedy that can happen to anyone, anywhere. This grim event occurred just two days after the world commemorated Drowning Prevention Day, an annual WHO initiative aimed at raising awareness of this leading cause of death.
The incident occurred in a basement of a coaching center where three Indian Administrative Service (IAS) aspirants tragically lost their lives, a result of callous negligence and lax regulations. The world is facing a growing crisis, with rising seas, maximum cities, spiralling poverty, and risky livelihoods contributing to an alarming number of drowning incidents.
According to studies, the future, ravaged by cyclones, hurricanes, tsunamis, and floods, will see a significant increase in water-related exposure. Children under the age of 10 and adolescents, who already account for half of all drowning deaths, are the most at risk. As we grapple with the consequences of climate change and urbanization, it is crucial to acknowledge that drowning is a public health crisis that demands immediate attention and action.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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