World Conference Declaration: Building a Global Platform to Reduce Drowning

Field: Health Professions (Health Sciences)

The International Life Saving (ILS) World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2011 (WCDP 2011) was held in Danang, Vietnam by the hosts Royal Life Saving Society -Australia and The Alliance For Safe Children.Vietnam was selected above Sydney or Melbourne for three simple reasons:1. Vietnam has high rates of drowning, particularly in children and is representative of the drowning issue in other low and middle income countries in Asia;2. The Government of Vietnam had recognised the issue, initiated partnerships with UN agencies and non-government organisations (NGO's) and moved to frame policies and plans to prevent drowning;3. Vietnam is not only a beautiful and rich tourism destination, but provided delegates with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the challenges of reducing drowning in a LMIC context.WCDP2011 had a primary goal of raising the pro le of drowning as a public health and development issue globally, in Asia and in Vietnam.Secondary goals included a focus on diversity of stakeholders and perspectives, presentation of signi cant research, policy and examples of practice; to expose delegates to the issues speci c to LMICs including child drowning prevention, ooding and disaster risk reduction, and transport related drowning.The conference was attended by over 435 delegates from over 52 countries, along with representatives of WHO and UNICEF.Organisers secured over 75 full scholarships for researchers, policy makers and practitioners from LMICS in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.This reinforced a diversity of perspectives and gave weight to its focus on drowning in LMICs.Critical to the success of the conference was the WCDP 2011 legacy program.Key features included the scholarships, regional and national workshops conducted in the 12 months leading into the event, and ongoing drowning intervention research in Vietnam and Bangladesh.Perhaps the most signi cant of the legacy program activities was the development of a conference declaration titled Building a Global Platform to Reduce Drowning.Conference participants engaged in drafting this declaration in the months prior to the event, in further workshops throughout the event including a conference stand for brainstorming and drafting statements, and in followup and review post event.The document that follows presents the WCDP 2011 Conference Declaration -Building a Global Platform to Reduce Drowning.It consists of four sections:1. Framing the need for a Global Platform to Reduce Drowning 2. Guiding themes of a Global Platform to Reduce Drowning 3. The Framework for a Global Platform to Reduce Drowning 4. The Call to Action for a World Free from DrowningThe conference declaration calls to action international agencies, governments, national and sub-national, non-government organisations, research centres, donors and corporates.It encourages all those with an interest and dedication to reducing the burden of drowning in the regions, nations, provinces and communities of the world to dedicate their time and energy to collaboration.We thank all those who participated in WCDP 2011 and this declaration process.We acknowledge that WCDP 2011 and this declaration represent a single milestone in our long held and shared ambition of a world free from drowning.We look forward to seeing you at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2013 in Potsdam, Germany.