A call for action to address the burden of drowning in Nepal

WHO's Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions have the highest drowning rates and comprise 67% of Global Burden. Low-income countries have lack quality data and poor drowning prevention measures. Drowning is also a significant public health concern in Nepal, with estimated 1,500 annual deaths it is the third injury-related cause of death among the population overall. The magnitude is very high among children: drowning is the second leading cause of death of children 1-4 years and third leading cause for children (5-9 years) and young people (10-14 years). We describe drowning data for Nepal using available multiple sources and government records that describe differences in various estimates. We have also listed some actions that need to be taken by agencies and stakeholders relevant to drowning prevention i.e. Government, non-government sectors, and Communities. It is anticipated that this paper will facilitate researchers' investigations into the deficiencies and potential enhancements of the data, thereby contributing to the advancement of drowning prevention initiatives.