Steep drop in childhood pneumonia deaths in last decade,
but much further to go UNICEF
NEW DELHI, 12 November 2014 榮bsp;Significant declines in child deaths from pneumonia prove that strategies to defeat the disease are working, UNICEF said on the fifth World Pneumonia Day. But much more is needed to stop hundreds of thousands of children from succumbing to this preventable illness each year.
Pneumonia is still among the leading killers of children globally accounting for 15 per cent of deaths, or approximately 940,000 children per year but deaths from the disease have declined by 44 per cent since 2000, according to figures released recently by UNICEF[1].
India accounts for the highest number of under-five deaths in the world, with 1.34 million children dying every year[2]. Pneumonia contributes to 23% of total under five deaths in India. Each year there are 35 million episodes of pneumonia, of which approximately 388,100 result in child deaths[3].
㐮eumonia is still a very dangerous disease it kills more children under five than HIV/AIDS, malaria, injuries and measles combined and though the numbers are declining, with nearly 1 million deaths a year, there is no room for complacency,䠳aid Dr. Mickey Chopra, head of UNICEFⳠglobal health programmes. 㐯verty is the biggest risk factor, and that means our efforts need to reach every child, no matter how marginalized.䠼/span>
Deaths from pneumonia are highest in poor rural communities. Household air pollution is a major cause of pneumonia, so children from households which rely on biomass fuels such as kerosene, wood, dung or charcoal for cooking or heating, are at high risk.
Overcrowded homes also contribute to higher pneumonia levels. In addition poor children are less likely to be immunized against measles and whooping cough, which are also among major causes of the disease.
Early diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia, and access to health care, will save lives, thus strategies must target low income communities.
The increased use of vaccines against pneumonia, particularly in low income countries has led to progress against the disease, but inequities exist even in countries with wide coverage.
レosing the treatment gap between the poor and the better off is crucial to bringing down preventable deaths from pneumonia,䠄r Chopra said. 㔨e more we focus on the causes and the known solutions, the faster we will bring this childhood scourge under control.伯span>
UNICEFⳠSupply Division has today put out a call to innovators for new, improved and more easily affordable respiratory rate timers to aid in the timely recognition and management of pneumonia.
In India, low cost interventions to avert these deaths are available but often fail to reach those who need them the most. The Government of India has recently launched an Integrated Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhea (IAPPD). The plan is being targeted in four states which account for more than half of under-five deaths. (UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh). The strategy involves several sectors and is based on an integrated approach of protection, prevention and treatment
The IAPPD is in line with the Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhea. Scaling up of simple measures such as early and exclusive breastfeeding; handwashing with soap; vaccination; and provision of micronutrients will reduce the incidence of pneumonia. In addition, prompt diagnosis, referral and access to appropriate treatment are vital for preventing child deaths due to pneumonia.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org.
For further information please contact:
Caroline Den Dulk, Chief of Communication, UNICEF India, Tel: +91-995 8176291, Email: cdendulk@unicef.org
Geetanjali Master, Communication Specialist, UNICEF India, Tel: 91-981 810 5861, E-mail: gmaster@unicef.org
Sonia Sarkar, Communication Officer- Media, UNICEF India, Tel: +91-981 017 0289, E-mail: ssarkar@unicef.org
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