On the occasion of World Pneumonia Day on November 12, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) will be flagging off the ‘Say No to Pneumonia’, a campaign to increase awareness about the disease and its preventive measures. This is to strengthen efforts to decrease infant child mortality rate due to pneumonia. Globally, pneumonia accounts for 20 per cent deaths among children below five years becoming the leading cause of death in the age group. According to the IAP, annually, India witnesses 45 million pneumonia cases among children under five years of which 0.37 million die due to pneumonia.
Commenting on the pneumonia deaths among young children in India, Dr Rohit C Agrawal, National IAP President said, “Globally, pneumonia kills an estimated 1.4 million children under the age of five years every year – more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. It is alarming that India accounts for almost 25 per cent of the world’s pneumonia child deaths. Creating a clean environment, addressing the issue of malnutrition, breast feeding for the first six months of life, timely immunisation and appropriate healthcare delivery for children in India will significantly reduce mortality rates due to vaccine preventable diseases like pneumonia.”
Farah Khan, renowned choreographer and filmmaker says, “As parents we want the best for our children. Their health and overall well-being is also our primary responsibility and concern. Due to low body immunity often young children are prone to cold-cough conditions and respiratory infections like pneumonia. I urge parents to consult their pediatrician and consider immunisation as a preventive measure for vaccine-preventable diseases like pneumonia and measles.”
Dr Sailesh G Gupta, Secretary General, IAP says, “Through the ‘Say No to Pneumonia’ Campaign IAP aims to create awareness among parents, healthcare professionals and policymakers on the importance of preventing pneumonia, protecting children from conditions that increase the risk of pneumonia and ensuring that it is diagnosed and treated early. IAP is organising in-clinic activities and seminars for health workers to raise public awareness on a disease that is highly preventable.”
Pneumonia can be an economic burden for the families and vaccination is therefore a safe and cost-effective preventive measure. The WHO has identified the inclusion of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) in the national immunisation programmes as a priority in countries where the mortality rate of children under five years is more than 50 per 1,000 live births, or where more than 50,000 children die annually. India is an ideal candidate for the inclusion of PCV in the national immunisation programme.
Dr Rohit C Agrawal further adds, “While the Government of India is working towards introducing favorable solutions to reduce the disease burden, it is important for pediatricians, pulmonologists, and the public to join this drive against childhood pneumonia and take appropriate action to save young lives. Vaccination is the best preventive measure for vaccine preventable diseases like measles, H. influenzae and pneumococcal diseases.”
EH News Bureau