Published: 7 June 2023
South East Asia Drowning Prevention Forum and Workshop, Penang, Malaysia.
Delegates from countries across the ASEAN region gathered in Penang, Malaysia 29 May – 1 June 2030 for the South East Asia Drowning Prevention Forum and Workshop.
The Forum and Workshop was convened to address what the World Health Organization classifies as a serious and overlooked public health threat claiming 236,000 lives annually. Tragically, drowning being the leading cause of child and adolescent mortality in numerous ASEAN nations.
The Forum and Workshop was jointly hosted by Life Saving Society – Malaysia – Penang Branch, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, and Royal Life Saving Australia, and supported by the Australia-ASEAN Council.
Delegates embraced the crucial mission to facilitate information sharing, build awareness and capacity, and highlight strategies to reduce drowning across ASEAN nations.
Speakers from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, including governments and many NGOs shared their experience and progress towards preventing drowning.
The workshop was honoured to have special guests Dr David Meddings, WHO, Darren Williams, RNLI and Dr Amy Peden, UNSW, Peter George AM, ILS Asia-Pacific President and SLSA COO, Yasuko Nakagawa, Japan Lifesaving Association, Belinda Lawton and RJ Houston from RLSSA who each delivered keynote addresses and workshop activities.
Day three was the pinnacle event, and started with two very special guests. Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Local Government Development YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah Bin Mohd Nasir spoke about the leading role of the Malaysian Water Activity Safety Council in drowning prevention. And Australia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Dr Justin Lee highlighted the importance of countries working together to prevent drowning.
Thank you to all our delegates from across the region who travelled to Penang, Malaysia to be part of the workshop, including participants from: Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, along with our colleagues from WHO and the United Kingdom.
We are grateful to our partners Life Saving Society Malaysia Penang and the Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia for their hospitality and willingness to share their expertise; and the Australia-ASEAN Council for their support.
There is much to do; 236,000 people drown globally every year. We will save lives through continuing to work together, sharing strategies and expertise to prevent drowning.
