MWANZA, April 18 -- THE water that sustains Africa is the same water that quietly takes lives. Across the continents vast coastlines, lakes, and rivers, boats leave the shore at sunrise carrying men, women, and children whose livelihoods depend entirely on what the days waters provide.

By sunset, uncertainty often sets in for families waiting ashore. Not every boat returns. Not every child playing near water is found in time. Behind this routine of daily survival lies a persistent and devastating reality: drowning continues to claim lives across Africa in silence and largely preventable circumstances.

Drowning remains one of the most overlooked public health threats on the continent. It is also among the most preventable causes of death...