Africa faces rising hidden toll of water deaths

MWANZA: THE water that sustains Africa is the same water that quietly takes lives. Across the continent’s vast coastlines, lakes, and rivers, boats leave the shore at sunrise carrying men, women, and children whose livelihoods depend entirely on what the day’s waters provide.

By sunset, uncertainty often sets in for families waiting ashore. Not every boat returns. Not every child playing near water is found in time. Behind this routine of daily survival lies a persistent and devastating reality: drowning continues to claim lives across Africa in silence and largely preventable circumstances.

Drowning remains one of the most overlooked public health threats on the continent. It is also among the most preventable causes of death worldwide, affecting both children and adults and leaving deep social, economic, and health consequences in its wake.

Beyond the immediate loss of life, it disrupts families, weakens communities, and slows national development.

Economically, drowning often removes productive adults from the workforce. When breadwinners die at sea, in rivers, or in flooded areas, families lose their primary source of income. This pushes households further into poverty and increases dependence on already stretched social support systems.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths globally, accounting for about seven percent of all such deaths. The WHO further emphasizes the importance of recognizing drowning as a serious but preventable public health issue that requires stronger visibility and action.

Globally, children are the most affected group. The highest drowning rates occur among children aged one to four, followed by those aged five to nine.

It is also among the top five causes of death for people aged one to fourteen in at least 48 countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, and the United States. In Tanzania, this reality was recently discussed during a workshop convened by the National Drowning Prevention Network Tanzania (NDPN) in Dodoma.

The network brings together civil society organizations working to coordinate drowning prevention efforts in the country. The discussions went beyond sympathy and focused on structural responsibility. Participants asked a central question: what must African nations do to decisively address drowning across the continent?

The responses were practical and policy-driven, with a shared belief that fragmented efforts are no longer enough.

A key recommendation was that African countries urgently ratify global drowning prevention conventions. Participants stressed that ratification would require governments to align national systems with international standards on safety, surveillance, reporting, and prevention.

Mr Francis Rogers noted that when drowning is treated as an unfortunate accident rather than a preventable public health issue, policy action remains weak. However, when it is formally recognized as preventable, governments are compelled to respond more decisively.

He added that for families who lose breadwinners to capsized boats or sudden floods, such commitments are not symbolic diplomatic actions but potential life-saving protections. He further stressed the importance of sustained public awareness. In many communities, drowning is still viewed as fate rather than a preventable outcome.

Yet factors such as poor swimming ability, lack of life jackets, unsafe boats, alcohol consumption during water activities, and sudden weather changes are all preventable risks. Without awareness, prevention efforts struggle to take root. Participants emphasized the need for continuous messaging through schools, media, religious institutions, and community organizations.

The Chairperson of NDPN, Mrs AngelMercy Baruti, called for stronger commitment to public awareness. She said understanding that drowning is often silent and rapid can help communities become more alert and proactive. Awareness, she noted, changes behavior and reduces fatalism.

Former Director General of the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) and current Projects Administrator at the Tanzania Tuna Fishery National Alliance (TUNA), Dr Benjamin Ngatunga, highlighted the importance of regional cooperation.

He emphasized that drowning patterns differ across inland lakes, floodprone settlements, coastal fishing zones, and urban transport routes. However, successful interventions in one country are often not shared with others.

Dr Ngatunga called for structured data exchange and collaborative platforms to allow countries to learn from one another and avoid duplication of effort.

He further noted that regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have a key role to play in integrating drowning prevention into broader public health and disaster risk management frameworks. He explained that water systems, storms, and currents do not respect national borders.

Acoordinated regional approach could harmonize safety standards, strengthen cross-border rescue systems, and elevate drowning prevention on political agendas. He also urged African countries to develop clear policies, laws, and regulations specifically addressing drowning prevention.

Without legal frameworks, implementation remains inconsistent and reactive. Such frameworks, he said, should include safety standards for small vessels, structured data systems, emergency response protocols, and integration of drowning prevention into national health planning. When policies are absent, responsibility becomes unclear.

When laws exist, accountability improves. Dr Ngatunga emphasized that the goal is not to eliminate interaction with water but to improve safety systems. Africa’s waters will continue to support livelihoods, transport, and culture, but drowning can be reduced through coordinated systems.

The Program Manager from Tanzania Rural Health Movement, Mr Augustino Mhanga, stressed the importance of a coordinated national strategy.

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He recommended water safety education in primary schools, swimming and survival training for children, strict enforcement of life jacket use, and clear warning signs in high-risk areas such as rivers, dams, and lakes.

He also highlighted the role of caregivers, especially those responsible for young children at home. Community awareness programs should emphasize constant supervision and safe water storage practices. He warned that even small amounts of water in buckets, basins, or bathtubs can cause fatal drowning incidents in children.

At health facilities, particularly within Reproductive and Child Health services, mothers and pregnant women should receive regular education on drowning risks during antenatal and postnatal visits.

Mr Mhanga also called for stronger emergency systems, including first aid and CPR training for community members, functional emergency hotlines, rescue equipment in health facilities, and improved coordination between communities and health services.

From Blue Economy Aquaculture Tanzania, Mrs Betty Massanja said the central issue is no longer whether drowning can be reduced, but whether existing solutions will be implemented. She noted that policies, frameworks, and technical expertise already exist. The real challenge, she said, is whether African countries will move drowning prevention from the margins to the center of public health priorities.

Water will always be part of life, but whether it continues to take preventable lives depends on decisions made beyond the shoreline. Senior Fisheries Officer Ms Grace Kakama, presenting on marine fisheries and drowning, noted that Tanzania’s coastline stretches about 1,424 kilometers.

Fishing is largely small-scale, involving traditional boats operated by paddles or small engines. The sector supports thousands of households and is vital for food security. However, while fish resources are managed to some extent, fisher safety remains weak.

Many fishers cannot swim and lack survival-atsea training. Panic during accidents often turns survivable situations into fatalities. She also noted that drowning discussions often focus on men, yet women such as seaweed farmers and shellfish collectors also face significant risks.

These women work in tidal zones exposed to sudden water changes, slippery surfaces, and isolation, often without swimming skills. Because their work is informal, incidents are frequently underreported. She further highlighted unsafe vessels, many of which lack life jackets, radios, GPS systems, or emergency communication tools.

Life jackets are often seen as unnecessary or too costly, yet they are critical for survival in emergencies. In many cases, the absence of organized search and rescue systems leads to delayed response times, turning accidents into fatalities.

The Advocacy Officer from the Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization (EMEDO), Ms Mary Francis, described the annual workshop as an important platform for reflection and planning.

The two-day session reviewed NDPN activities in 2025, assessed progress on the National Multisectoral Drowning Prevention Strategy, and developed priorities for 2026.

It also included planning for World Drowning Prevention Day, World Fisheries Day, and strengthening the NDPN Media Action Plan. Participants also discussed the possibility of holding quarterly regional symposia to strengthen coordination and advocacy efforts moving forward.a