By JENNY F. MANONGDO
By JENNY F. MANONGDO
Drowning is now the second leading cause of death among children aged one to 14 years old in the country, outnumbering deaths from serious diseases such as tuberculosis, malnutrition, diarrhea, cancer, and meningitis, local experts revealed in a recent study.
The findings were contained in an analysis on the drowning situation among kids conducted by Safe Kids Philippines, the Philippine Life Saving Society and the Department of Health entitled, “Child drowning in the Philippines: The silent killer speaks.
The study covered the period 1963 up to 2003 and utilized data from the World Health Statistics Annual, the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) and community-based drowning surveys in the municipality of Los Baños in Laguna and Iligan City in Mindanao.
It revealed that almost 2,000 children die yearly from drowning and 35.6 percent of all drowning victims are children up to 14 years of age.
“We have more severe flooding now… community surveys say 10 to 12 percent drowning fatalities happen during flash floods, said Dr. Rafael J. Consunji, President of Safe Kids Philippines, during a press conference.
It was also found that boys are twice more likely to die of drowning compared to girls of the same age, and that the most common site for drowning was open water such as seas, lakes, rivers and creeks as established in 77 percent of drowning cases in Los Baños and Iligan City.
“Ten percent of all drowning deaths per year occur during maritime disasters. The smaller cases such as small boats that sink do not get added to the list… throughout 40 years, drowning rates have remained largely unchanged. It is under-recognized as a public health priority, Consunji lamented.
Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, World Health Organization (WHO) country representative, said that the country’s unique geographical and climatic conditions “pose a risk for drowning.
He also said that the lack of legislation related to water safety has contributed largely to the growing number of drowning children.
Dr. Soe recommended a set of measures to curb this growing public health threat among children.
“Effective interventions include removing or covering water hazards, requiring isolation fencing ” four-sided around swimming pools; wearing personal flotation devices; and ensuring immediate resuscitation, he said.
“Promising interventions include ensuring the presence of lifeguards at swimming areas, and conducting targeted awareness-raising on drowning.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has began a national electronic surveillance system on injuries, which does not include drowning, piloted in six hospitals ” the Vicente Memorial Medical Center in Cebu, Davao Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center and the Quirino Memorial Medical Center.
Dr. Yolly Oliveros, Director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said the list currently includes injuries related to road and traffic accidents, mauling and assaults, and falls.
“It does not capture drowning; that is why we have to strengthen community-based surveillance activities, she said.
In Lingayen and Dagupan City in Pangasinan, Dr. Oliveros revealed that drowning incidents have increasingly forced local governments to raise awareness on the issue. As a result, authorities have started using reporting forms for every drowning incident.
The DOH official said this should be replicated nationwide so that the surveillance system can effectively list all drowning incidents in the country.
Link: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/234955/drowning-silent-killer-rp-kids