Fighting pneumonia

The World Pneumonia Day was observed on November 12. The day is celebrated across the world to bring people together to fight the illness. Pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents including viruses, bacteria and fungi. It is one of the most solvable problems in global health and yet a child dies from the infection every 20 seconds.

Globally, it kills an estimated 1.4 million children every year – more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. At present, it is the biggest infectious killer of children under five accounting for 16 percent of deaths. More than 900,000 children worldwide have lost their lives to a disease that can easily be prevented and treated. Pakistan ranks third in the list of 15 high burden countries where the estimated deaths of children by pneumonia is alarmingly high. According to the latest report, 71,000 children die of pneumonia every year in Pakistan. Controlling childhood pneumonia required correct and consistent delivery of an integrated package of interventions to protect, prevent, and treat the disease. Prevention is essential to interrupt the vicious cycle of ill health and poverty. Vaccines not only keep children from getting sick but protect the community by reducing the circulation of disease. We need to strengthen efforts to bring down the number of deaths due to pneumonia. Clean environment, addressing malnutrition, encouraging breastfeeding and timely immunisation will help reduce the mortality rate.

Vinod C Dixit

Ahmedabad, India