A resolution jointly led by Bangladesh and Ireland has been adopted in the ongoing session of the World Health Organization (WHO) to take effective steps to prevent tragic incidents like deaths from drowning worldwide..

The resolution, adopted unanimously in Geneva on Monday, was co-sponsored by 74 countries, according to a press release.

In their speeches, the countries participating in the discussion on the resolution mentioned that the drowning death rate is the highest in the least developed countries and said it is possible to reduce this death rate at a low cost. It should be noted that the developed countries have already achieved great success by taking steps like teaching swimming to children, it said.

In its speech, Bangladesh expressed that it is trying to reduce the drowning death rate by introducing laws, taking up projects and allocating funds to reduce the mortality rate. The resolution called for the establishment of a global alliance consisting of relevant UN agencies, international development partners and NGOs at the earliest.

Every day, 30 children under the age of five drown in Bangladesh. The mortality rate is 40 in terms of age range of 18 years. In the light of these two statistics, it can be said Bangladesh’s success in preventing child deaths may be lost if effective steps are not taken to prevent these deaths, said the release.

Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific have the highest number of drowning deaths. This mortality rate is highest in low and middle-income countries of the world.

Through this resolution, mutual cooperation between the countries of the WHO will be strengthened, which will play an effective role in preventing drowning deaths and Bangladesh’s diplomatic image in the international arena is expected to increase, added the release.

It is to be noted that the first resolution in this regard was also adopted by Bangladesh and Ireland at the United Nations General Conference in New York on April 28, 2021.