The Health Ministry is launching a drowning prevention campaign targeting citizens over 60, who account for 80% of the country’s roughly 373 annual drowning deaths.
The campaign, developed with Safe Water Sports and national health agency EODY, carries the slogan “Drowning prevention is a public health issue.” Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said his ministry will ask health IT agency IDIKA to send texts and emails with safety information to older citizens as the swimming season begins. Outreach events are also planned at senior centers nationwide throughout the summer.
EODY’s scientific council chairman Theodoros Vasilakopoulos noted that the “Prolamvano” preventive screening program could further reduce drownings caused by undiagnosed conditions such as heart arrhythmias.
