Hassan Latif, a water safety coach attached to Masdar says that Busoga sub-region is still grappling with the challenge of managing drowning cases due to overloading of passenger boats and use of illegal boats during fishing activities.
The Jinja zonal police’s marine unit, in partnership with
Masdar Aquatic Safety Association, an umbrella body of divers operating across the
different water bodies in the Busoga sub-region, on Friday trained 44 pool
attendants, beach operators and fishermen on the different water safety skills.
The training was organized following a spate of accidents
recorded at both the swimming pools and different water bodies across Kiira
policing region.
During the one-day training sessions carried out across both
lake Victoria and Brisk Hotel’s swimming pool within Jinja city respectively; participants acquired
skills in the proper use of life jackets, deep water diving abilities, and
conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation-CPR procedures after rescuing causalities
of water-related accidents.
Geoffrey Waiswa, a fisherman attached to the Masese landing site
along Lake Victoria says that most of them learnt water safety skills
informally from their colleagues, but following tipoffs from professional divers
and police’s marine unit personnel, he is optimistic of voluntarily extending such
knowledge to his colleagues within the fisheries industry.
//cue in: “ndimusanufu ihno… //
Cue out…in safe hands,”//
Erick Mayinja, a pool attendant says that most swimming
pools in Kiira police region, lack the necessary safety gear needed in the
rescue of victims, which increases risks to the lives of clients during water-related accidents.
Mayinja adds that there are managerial gaps at the different
swimming pools, with most facility owners downplaying the relevance of instituting recommendable safety measures, yet pool attendants are liable for all
accidents ensuing.
//cue in: “it is quite…//
Cue out…not the boss,”//
Hassan Latif, a water safety coach attached to Masdar says that, Busoga sub-region is still grappling
with the challenge of managing drowning cases due to overloading of passenger
boats and use of illegal boats during fishing activities.However with routine
refresher courses, fishermen and pool attendants alike are easily equipped with
the necessary rescue skills.
//cue in: “Kiira region is…//
Cue out…in Kiira region,”//
Meanwhile, the Jinja zonal marine police commander, Bruno
Sande says that water safety campaigns are essential initiatives in reducing
the cases of loss of lives registered during water-related accidents, since the bigger portion of the population, will have access to the precautionary
measures and primary water safety skills.
