From 8th to 10th October 2019, the global drowning prevention community came together in Durban, South Africa for the latest in the World Conferences on Drowning Prevention (WCDP) run by the International Lifesaving Federation. As with previous such conferences, it was co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation
With over 520 delegates from 64 countries worldwide, WCDP 2019 was a very successful event and reinforced the important messages on reducing the global burden of drowning.
A total of 200 oral presentations were made, in addition to 115 poster presentations that were displayed in the Exhibition Hall at the Durban International Conference Centre. The ILS wishes to thank our hosts, Lifesaving South Africa, for their commitment and organisation of an excellent event, and all of the delegates who attended and contributed to making the event such a success.
As the sun set on WCDP 2019, at the closing ceremony, Lifesaving South Africa handed over the responsibility for hosting the next WCDP event to the President of the Sri Lanka Lifesaving Society, where it will be held in Colombo, from 8th to 10th October 2021. More information on WCDP 2021 will be provided in the near future.
