Increasing social awareness about drowning

Drowning is a regular affair in Bangladesh. However, the number of drowned victims is increasing day by day. According to a survey, around 19,000 people of all ages drown every year across the country, and nearly 70 per cent of them are under the age of 10. This is quite shocking.

The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that drowning is one of the world's most preventable, yet neglected public health issues. However, despite the fact that the number of drowning incidents is high in Bangladesh, limited attention has so far been paid by the government to develop a national strategy on preventive measures. If we want to minimise deaths by drowning in significant numbers, government initiatives are a must.

On the other hand, citizens too need to act more consciously. Everyone is, perhaps, well aware of the fact that May, June and July are the most dangerous months when drowning incidents are more frequent. Yet, we constantly ignore the issue and pay for it with the cost of our own lives. Instead of only criticising the authorities concerned, we should also start to take responsibility for our actions.

Shahjahan Sirazi,

Malibagh, Dhaka,

mshaju001@gmail.com