MWE Correspondent
As Tanzania joins the world in observing International Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, national experts are calling for coordinated, evidence-based efforts to reduce the high number of water-related deaths, particularly among fishing and lakeside communities.
At a press conference in Dar es Salaam, the Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization (EMEDO) said that a lack of national drowning data continues to hamper effective planning and lifesaving interventions.
“This year’s theme, Your Story Can Save a Life, reminds us that behind every drowning statistic is a real person. But we can’t act effectively if we don’t have our own national data,” said EMEDO’s Advocacy Officer, Mary Francis.
“Currently, Tanzania mostly relies on estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), which are important but not enough to guide localized responses,” she added.
Globally, drowning is a leading cause of death, claiming more than 236,000 lives each year. It ranks among the top 10 causes of death for children and youth aged 1–24 in every region of the world.
In Tanzania, the situation is particularly concerning in regions around large water bodies like Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa, where water-based activities are central to daily life and income.
Although the national drowning rate is estimated at 2.2 deaths per 100,000 people, one community-based study in Lake Victoria’s fishing villages found a shocking fatality rate of 217 per 100,000. Of these, 87% of adult deaths occurred during routine fishing operations—often without life jackets or safety training.
“Drowning is a silent killer in our country,” said Edwin Soko, a journalist and member of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). “Without local statistics, we can’t know where to focus resources or how well we are doing in tackling the issue.”
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Currently, Tanzania lacks a unified drowning surveillance system, making it difficult to track who is at risk, why drowning occurs, and what interventions are working. Most deaths go unreported or are not officially classified as drowning, especially in rural and remote areas.
Francis emphasized that better local data would allow for stronger prevention programs, ranging from swimming education in schools to enforcing safety regulations for fishing boats and water transport.
Despite these challenges, Tanzania is taking important steps. In 2024, it became one of the first countries in Africa to launch a comprehensive National Drowning Prevention Action Plan, supported by WHO and local stakeholders. The plan focuses on:
- Promoting swimming and water safety lessons
- Improving access to personal safety gear like floatation devices
- Enhancing public awareness through targeted campaigns
- Strengthening emergency response systems
“This roadmap is a game-changer if fully implemented,” Francis said. “But implementation depends on community buy-in and consistent funding.”
The campaign theme “Your Story Can Save a Life” emphasizes the importance of survivor voices, eyewitnesses, and families in creating change. Organizers are encouraging individuals to share their personal experiences on social media and through local media to raise awareness and push for accountability.
“We need to remove the shame or silence around these deaths,” said Soko. “Every story told could help prevent another one.”
