The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

An estimated 30,000 people including children die of unnatural reasons every year in Bangladesh, of which 17,000 people aged between one to 18 die of drowning, said a survey of the Bangladesh Health and Injury (BHI).

The BHI survey said the death rate of children in the country from various diseases has declined to a satisfactory level during the last two years, while drowning of children has increased to 57 per cent in 2003 from 9 per cent in 1983, another study shows.

Several studies carried out by the ICDDR'B and the BHI revealed that lack of awareness was largely responsible to drowning.

It said that during floods, a good number of mothers and family members keep them busy between 9 am to 2 pm for household management instead of keep their eyes on their kids.

According to UNICEF, during the rainy season between June to August last year as many as 946 incidents of death occurred in the country, of which 816 death incidents took place as a result of drowning mostly children aged below five years.

Talking to BSS, UNICEF Project officer Dr Sumona Safinaz said many of drowning occurred during the flooding in the fur- flung areas and those incidents do not get published due to bad communication facilities.

The rate of drowning of children between one to 17 years of old is more than the death of pneumonia or diarrhoea, according to Children and Mother Affairs Institute of the Health Ministry.

Another survey carried out by the BHI observed that drowning of children happens usually in ponds, ditches, lakes largely even in dry season.

On the other hand, it said, during the rainy season the water bodies get filled due to incessant rain and onrush of hilly waters that causes children drowned.

Dr Sumona said the drowning incident occur when children go to nearby ponds or lakes in absence of their parents or relatives. Moreover, she said, the mothers often keep their children with their relatives those are not capable to rescue if any of the children go to the water-body.

She said mothers of joint families spend enough time to do huge variety of jobs keeping their kids in charge of others. Not only this, Dr Sumona said, "Many children used to go far away beyond the knowledge of their parents and after a long time they search them, but unfortunately found their children floating in nearby pond or other water-body.

The studies suggested creating massive social awareness and said policy makers, health workers as well as local people can play an active role in a coordinated manner in keeping the children at bay from the water-bodies.

It recommended inclusion of education related to drowning in schools and social organisations and holding discussions with imams at mosques and distributing leaflets and posters door-to- door.

While contacted, Dr Ahmed Jamal Saief said ignorance of parents in dealing with children who slipped into waterdodies and swallowed enough water.

Five students of Mirpur MDC Model High School between 13 to 15 years of old drowned recently in a boat capsize at City's Mirpur area. The accident took place when a total of 10 students Went on a boat journey at a Mirpur lake as their school ended earlier on that day.

Five of the students swam ashore while others drowned.

Two days after the Mirpur incident, seven students drowned at Signal point in Cox's Bazar beach while they were taking baths. Three students were rescued with the help of divers and police.