Bangladesh

Every day, more than 30 children, between the ages 1-4, die from drowning in Bangladesh.

With the right interventions, child drowning is preventable.

The Problem

Bangladesh is prone to regular flooding. This is a huge threat to children every single day and their safety is compromised due to a care gap. Parents struggle to provide enough time and attention for childcare during the day while they also have to work. Rural parts of the country experience much higher drowning rates, where children drown as close as 20 meters from home, due to open ponds, rivers, canals, and drainage ditches. However, statistics show that high-impact interventions, such as supervision and training, can help in making child drowning preventable.

Effective drowning prevention interventions

Daycare is a proven highly effective tool for preventing child drowning. Research conducted by the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research – with Johns Hopkins University and the World Health Organization – shows that community-based daycare and learning centers are not only scalable drowning prevention tools, but have lasting benefits for children and families.

Our growing network of partners include:

For more information

Esha Husain, Partnership Lead
ehusain@synergos.org

Notable Milestones

On February 22, 2022, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the "Integrated Community Based Center for Child Care, Protection and Swim-Safe Facilities Project" by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. It is the first signature project based on the country's Comprehensive ECCD Policy, 2013.

Synergos, alongside its drowning prevention and ECD partners, is pleased to have worked on the project design with Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

We congratulate them on their new project. 

The launching ceremony of the government-approved “Integrated Community-Based Center for Child Care, Protection, and Swim-Safe Facilities Project”, implemented by Bangladesh Shishu Academy under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, took place on June 12, 2022.

The Honorable State Minister of Women and Children Affairs attended as the Chief Guest, with the Secretary of the Ministry serving as the Special Guest. Representatives from key development partners, including Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), also graced the occasion. The event was presided over by the Chairman of Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

This innovative project aims to provide comprehensive Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) services and benefits to 200,000 children and their parents across 16 districts through community-based childcare centers. Additionally, 360,000 children will receive survival swimming training, amongst other life-enhancing benefits.

We commend the Government of Bangladesh for its visionary commitment to this groundbreaking initiative.

Highlights from the Launching Ceremony

Our archive of efforts to prevent and raise awareness on the issue include the following categories: