Training the Next Generation of Drowning Prevention Leaders

Drowning is preventable, but a lack of awareness about the problem and existing solutions, even in countries with the highest burden, has delayed action. A new Drowning Prevention Emerging Leaders Program, supported and launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies and facilitated by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, trained a cohort of young leaders to join national and international efforts to raise awareness and strengthen solutions and political commitment for drowning prevention.

The year-long program brought together emerging leaders from sectors including academia, media, civil society and research from high burden countries to address this public health crisis.

The program provided a unique opportunity for leaders to become steeped in the issue, strengthen their own capacity, knowledge and leadership skills and to learn what a leadership role in drowning means and what we can collectively do to reduce drowning deaths around the world.

The program was collaboratively developed by an advisory group of experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB), George Institute for Global Health, James Cook University, Johns Hopkins University, Synergos and the World Health Organization. 

This first cohort of twelve Drowning Prevention Emerging Leaders began in September 2023 and represented leaders, professionals and public health experts from a variety of sectors including academia, media, civil society, research and government from countries with a high burden of drowning, including:

• Md. Shafkat Hossain, CIPRB, Bangladesh 
• Adiba Nahri, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangladesh
• Cara Aidoo, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
• Dr. Bertha Ansaah Kusimi, National Disaster Management Organization, Ghana
• Manas Pratim Roy, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
• Sujoy Roy, Child in Need Institute, India 
• Frederick Oporia, Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda
• Winnie Namagembe, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda
• Briana Moreland, CDC, United States
• Lindsay Mondick, YMCA of the USA, United States
• Nguyen Bui Anh Khoa, Department of Child Affairs, Ministry of Labor- War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam
• Bui Thi Thu Giang, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Vietnam

Leaders were guided through in-depth trainings are being taught via face-to-face meetings, online content, country landscape assessments, webinars with global experts, including topics such issue expertise, research, capacity building, leadership skills, communications and the role of media, the use of data and critical thinking. 

Each leader developed individual Capstone projects, leverage the knowledge gained during the program to address a pressing drowning-related issue in their home country. Leaders also attended the World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Perth, Australia and participated in a full day interactive Masterclass. The program culminated with presentations their individual Capstones at the World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion in Delhi, India.

Leaders were able to learn valuable skills, hone their strengths, expand their connections, and became more committed to leading drowning prevention efforts moving forward. One participant noted, “The networking opportunity this program provided was the best part of the program. Meeting leaders from other countries and additional people through conferences was very beneficial.” Another Leader noted, “I have learned that to be an effective leader who can drive a change with regards to drowning prevention involves building multi-sectoral partnerships and having a good foundation of research data for making informed decisions as well as evaluating the effectiveness of every intervention.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies plans to hold additional Drowning Prevention Emerging Leaders programs in the near future.