90% of drowning victims from low, middle income countries —WHO

Over 200,000 individuals died due to drowning in 2019, with more than 90% of the victims coming from low to middle income countries including the Philippines, according to Maki Pulido’s “24 Oras” special report on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) calls drowning a “silent killer.”

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), at least 2,348 individuals died due to drowning in the Philippines in 2022

The report said at least 44% of the victims are aged one to 19.

Meanwhile, more men (71%) died due to drowning than women with (29%) the WHO said.

Around 13% of those who died due to drowning were under the influence of alcohol.

“Para masolusyunan ang isyu ng drowning napakahalaga ang government leadership. Ganunpaman, lahat tayo ay maaaring tumulong,” John Juliard Go of WHO Philippines said.

Watch the special report for the complete story.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA Integrated News