WHO unveils mobile app for drowning prevention at landmark report launch

The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies has launched an innovative mobile application designed to enhance drowning prevention efforts globally. The app was unveiled by Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of the Department for Social Determinants of Health at WHO, during the official launch of the first-ever Global Report on Drowning Prevention at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland.

                                                              Kelly Larson, Public Health Team, Bloomberg Philanthropies

The app, which is set to transform the collection and dissemination of data on drowning incidents, aims to equip stakeholders with accurate, real-time information. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Krug noted the app’s potential to improve coordinated efforts to save lives. “This app will provide invaluable data to governments, organizations, and local communities working to prevent drowning. By consolidating and analyzing drowning statistics, we can better identify high-risk areas and implement targeted interventions,” he said.

The mobile application comes as part of WHO’s broader commitment to addressing drowning, which remains a significant public health issue despite notable progress. The new Global Report on Drowning Prevention reveals that drowning claimed 300,000 lives in 2021, with over 30 deaths occurring every hour. If current trends continue, more than 7.2 million people could die from drowning by 2050, making tools like the app essential in the fight to reverse these projections.

Key stakeholders at the launch of the first-ever Drowning Prevention Report

The WHO report, developed in response to a request by Member States through World Health Assembly Resolution 76.18 (2023), offers critical data and recommendations for drowning prevention. It stressed the importance of a coordinated, whole-of-society approach to save lives and ensure the promising global trends in drowning reduction are equitably experienced.

To prevent drowning effectively, WHO advocates for practical interventions, such as installing barriers to limit access to water, creating safe spaces for children, teaching water safety and rescue skills, and enforcing boating and water safety regulations.

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye