At Liido Beach in Mogadishu, a group of children are spending two days a week learning swimming and water-safety skills as part of a free campaign aimed at reducing child deaths caused by drowning.
The programme is designed for children under the age of 15, including both boys and girls. Participants are taught how to swim, how to avoid dangers in the water, and the proper ways to assist someone who has fallen into the water without putting themselves at risk.
Asha Geesdiir, who leads the campaign, said the programme was created in response to concerns about the number of children drowning along Mogadishu’s beaches, particularly during school holidays when families frequently visit the coast.
“During the training, children are taught important safety techniques, such as not attempting to grab someone who is drowning directly, because a person in panic may put the rescuer at risk,” Asha said.
She explained that instead of approaching a drowning person directly, children are taught how to use safety equipment and apply appropriate water-rescue techniques.
The programme does not focus only on children. Parents who attend are also given safety information to help them understand the risks their children face when visiting the beach without swimming and water-safety skills.
Leylo Hussein, who sells life jackets at Liido Beach, said many children enter the sea without using safety equipment.
“Many times, I have witnessed children losing their lives in the sea. Some of these children leave their parents without their knowledge and enter the water without wearing life jackets,” Leylo said.
Parents who bring their children to the training welcomed the initiative, saying that learning to swim and understanding water safety gives children skills that could save their lives.
“Teaching children about water safety and preventing drowning is very important. I brought two of my children here, a girl and a boy, and I hope they will learn to swim well and that the instructor will help them,” said Leylo, one of the parents attending the training.
Drowning: A Particular Risk for Children
The campaign comes at a time when global attention is focused on preventing deaths caused by drowning.
In 2021, the United Nations officially recognised 25 July as World Drowning Prevention Day, aimed at raising public awareness and promoting efforts to reduce drowning deaths.
Drowning does not only occur in the sea. It can also happen in rivers, swimming pools and other bodies of water. Children are among those most vulnerable to drowning, particularly when they cannot swim or do not have adequate supervision or access to safety equipment.
Those involved in the campaign believe that teaching children to swim, raising awareness among parents and promoting the use of safety equipment are important measures that can help reduce child deaths caused by drowning.
They are calling on parents to encourage their children to learn how to swim and to closely supervise them whenever they visit beaches or other places where there is water.
By Maryan Abdiqani Hussein, Bilan Media
