Drowning is now the most common cause of accidental death, killing 236,000 people each year, and has become a major threat to health worldwide.

According to the UN, it is also one of the main causes of death for children and young people aged 1-24 years, as well as the third greatest cause of unintentional injury death, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths.

Again, barriers controlling access to water, safe places away from water, such as crèches for pre-school children with capable childcare, teaching swimming, water safety, and safe rescue skills, training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation, setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping, and ferry regulations, and improving flood risk management are all important.

The UN says, the global burden of drowning is felt in all economies and regions: low- and middle-income countries account for over 90% of unintentional drowning deaths; over half of all drowning deaths occur in the WHO Western Pacific Region and WHO South-East Asia Region; drowning death rates are highest in the WHO Western Pacific Region, and are 27-32 times higher than those seen in the United Kingdom or Germany, respectively.

According to WHO data published in 2020, the number of drowning deaths in Ghana reached 740, accounting for 0.42% of all deaths.

The age-adjusted death rate in Ghana is 2.38 per 100,000 population, ranking it #93 in the world, whereas deaths in neighboring Burkina Faso reached 910, accounting for 0.68% of total deaths.

Burkina Faso ranks #61 in the world with an age adjusted death rate of 3.55 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Togo had 225 fatalities, accounting for 0.45% of all deaths. Togo ranks #77 in the world with an age adjusted mortality rate of 2.78 per 100,000 inhabitants, whereas Cote d'Ivoire had 1,232 fatalities, accounting for 0.71% of all deaths.

Cote d'Ivoire ranks #48 in the world with an age adjusted death rate of 3.93 per 100,000 population.
The Global report on Drowning is the first World Health Organization (WHO) publication dedicated solely to drowning, a highly avoidable public health concern that has never been the focus of a global strategic prevention campaign.

World Drowning Prevention Day, established by the UN General Assembly decision in April 2021, is observed annually on July 25. This global advocacy event provides an opportunity to emphasize the devastating and deep impact of drowning on families and communities, as well as to provide life-saving prevention options.

Stakeholders – governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, the commercial sector, academia, and individuals – commemorate World Drowning Prevention Day by emphasizing the importance of immediate, coordinated, and multi-sectoral action based on proven methods.

The new UN General Assembly resolution urged WHO to coordinate drowning prevention efforts across the UN system.

In this capacity, WHO oversees World Drowning Prevention Day preparations by creating associated advocacy materials, conducting a global launch event, and supporting national and local activities in countries and communities worldwide.