Rafiqul A Khan
A study by Center for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB) shows that in Bangladesh, an average of 32 children drown every day. In a single year, the number of infant deaths in this accident totaled at 12,000. About 20 percent of infant deaths due to drowning are under 5 years of age. To prevent this death, round-the-clock monitoring of the child, day-care center, and childcare will play a helpful role.The statistics is confirmed from the research findings.The organization conducted thisstudy in seven upazilas of the country from 2013 to 2016.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is the second leading cause of death in children worldwide. As a result, 359,000 people drown every year, with 98 percent of accidents occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
CIPRB Deputy Executive Director, Aminur Rahman presented the research information at a press briefing at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Thursday.The accidents happen more when the mother is busy cooking, washing clothes and doing household chores. Between 9 am and 1 pm, 50 per cent of children drown. At this time the children drowned in the pond and canal next to the house. These reservoirs are located at a distance of 20 meters from the common house. It is possible to prevent this accident if the child is kept under constant surveillance.”
The study was conducted in seven upazilas of the country – Raiganj, Manohardi, Sherpur, Matlab North, Matlab South, Chandpur and Daudkandi-a collaborative initiative among Johns Hopkins University, CIPRB, and ICDDRB with financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropy.
Speaking on unveiling of the findings after four years, Aminur Rahman said, “Once the research is done, it cannot be published quickly.” It is sent for peer review. It is then published in a scientific journal. The results of their research have also been published in an international journal.
Aminur added that as part of the study, 55,790 play-pens and 3,205 day-care centers were set up in 51 unions of six upazilas. Over the two years of the study, about 1.2 million people were monitored for accidental injuries. This included 1 lakh 22 thousand 23 children aged 1 to 4 years. The study included 70,000 children in day-care centers and nursery or both.
