World Drowning Day: WHO Sounds Alarm as 66,000 Africans Die from Drowning Annually

"The continent continues to record the highest drowning mortality rate among all WHO regions." Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

.... "While the global drowning death rate has declined by 38 per cent since 2000, more than 300,000 people still die from drowning every year, with Africa accounting for a disproportionate share of the fatalities."

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent and coordinated action to tackle drowning across Africa, warning that about 66,000 people die annually from the preventable tragedy despite significant global progress in reducing drowning deaths.

In a message marking World Drowning Prevention Day 2026, observed on July 25 under the theme, "Unite to Turn the Tide," WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said the continent continues to record the highest drowning mortality rate among all WHO regions.

According to him, while the global drowning death rate has declined by 38 per cent since 2000, more than 300,000 people still die from drowning every year, with Africa accounting for a disproportionate share of the fatalities.

Janabi noted that children remain the most affected, accounting for more than half of all drowning deaths in the region, while families that depend on rivers, lakes and the sea for transportation and livelihoods are also at heightened risk.

He stressed that drowning is preventable through sustained investment, stronger policies and collective action, insisting that the challenge can no longer be left to the health sector alone.

The WHO official urged governments, education authorities, transport agencies, fisheries and maritime institutions, disaster management agencies, civil society, academia and the private sector to work together to strengthen drowning prevention efforts.

Highlighting positive developments across the continent, Janabi said Tanzania and Uganda are advancing national drowning prevention strategies, while Ghana is promoting regional policy dialogue. He added that Mozambique and Nigeria have also committed to strengthening multisectoral coordination to curb drowning incidents.

He reaffirmed WHO's commitment to supporting African countries through improved governance, stronger data and surveillance systems, capacity building and the implementation of proven interventions that save lives.

Janabi also appealed to governments to elevate drowning prevention on national public health and development agendas, while urging communities to adopt simple safety measures such as close supervision of children around water, promoting swimming and water safety skills, using life jackets where necessary and encouraging safe behaviour around rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

"Every drowning death is one too many," he said, calling on governments, partners and communities to unite their efforts to prevent avoidable deaths and ensure safer lives around water.