Saima Wazed Urges Action on World Drowning Prevention Day
On July 25, Saima Wazed, the WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, called for global efforts to prevent drowning on World Drowning Prevention Day. She highlighted the theme, ‘Anyone can drown, no one should’, and the slogan, ‘Seconds can save a life’, emphasizing the importance of quick actions like wearing lifejackets and supervising children near water.
Wazed noted that drowning is a silent and sudden killer, with 236,000 lives lost globally each year. In Southeast Asia alone, 70,034 lives were lost to drowning in 2019. She pointed out that most drownings occur near homes due to lack of supervision and awareness.
The WHO is preparing to release the Global Status Report on Drowning by the end of 2024, which will offer updated data and recommendations for effective prevention measures. Wazed urged everyone to play a role in preventing drowning by raising awareness, promoting safety, and collaborating on prevention plans.
Doubts Revealed
Saima Wazed -: Saima Wazed is a person who works for the World Health Organization (WHO) and helps take care of health issues in Southeast Asia.
World Drowning Prevention Day -: World Drowning Prevention Day is a special day to remind everyone about the dangers of drowning and how to prevent it.
WHO -: WHO stands for the World Health Organization, which is a group that helps people all over the world stay healthy.
Southeast Asia -: Southeast Asia is a part of the world that includes countries like India, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
coordinated efforts -: Coordinated efforts mean that many people and groups work together to solve a problem.
injury-related death -: Injury-related death means dying because of an accident or harm, like drowning.
Global Status Report on Drowning -: The Global Status Report on Drowning is a big report that will give new information and advice on how to stop people from drowning.
