Child groups to observe Nov 2 as World Pneumonia Day
By IANSWednesday, October 21, 2009
NEW DELHI - A coalition of over 50 child health organisations from across the world will observe Nov 2 as the first World Pneumonia Day.
Two million children under five years of age die from pneumonia each year - more than from AIDS, measles and malaria combined, according to Global Coalition against Pneumonia.
“Pneumonia is largely preventable through vaccination. The main aim behind celebrating World Pneumonia Day is to provide necessary medication to the world’s most vulnerable countries,” said Nitin Shah, chairperson of the Indian version of Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumococcal disease prevention (ASAP).
India has the maximum penetration with 27 percent of the global pneumonia cases, followed by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Africa and Asia record the highest number of pneumonia causes and deaths.
“The health ministry should include pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), which immunises children against pneumonia and other diseases. India cannot achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds unless we tackle pneumonia burden in the country,” he said.
