Tanzania, July 21 -- Dar es Salaam. The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to launch a new global roadmap to help countries strengthen laws, policies and safety measures to prevent drowning, a public health challenge that claims more than 300,000 lives annually.

The PROTECT Technical Package for Drowning Prevention, which will be launched on Thursday, comes as climate change, rapid urbanisation, migration, informal employment and increased reliance on water transport expose millions of people to greater drowning risks.

The launch will come two days before Tanzania joins the rest of the world in celebrating the World Drowning Prevention Day which is observed annually on July 25.

Declared by the United Nations, this global advocacy e...