17,000 Nigerian children die of pneumonia yearly, says WHO

by: Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

•How to combat disease, by medical women


No fewer than 17, 700 Nigerian children die from pneumonia-related diseases every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Citing a WHO report, the Coalition Against Pneumonia (CAP) said the disease kills more children than any other disease - AIDS, malaria and measles combined.

CAP said Nigeria is among the 15 countries worse hit by the disease.

It said despite the Federal Government’s efforts to eradicate the disease, enough work has not been done.

The coalition urged the government to redouble its efforts in the campaign against the disease.

To tackle the menace, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has called for intensive action to eradicate the disease by integrating injection into routine immunisation.

Pnuemonia can be prevented by immunisation because, "it is an infection in the lungs and can be caused by bacteria, virus, fungus or parasites. The lungs are filled with fluid which blocks the passage of oxygen into the lungs. Clinical features include fever, chills, chest pain, productive cough, weakness, loss of appetite and difficulty in breathing.

"Pneumonia causes almost one in five under five deaths worldwide yearly. WHO states that it is the single largest cause of death in children worldwide, an estimated 1.4million children under the age of five, 98 per cent of these children are from developing countries.

"Nigeria has the highest child mortality rate in Africa, and it has been confirmed that no fewer than 90,000 children die from pneumonia-related diseases. Of the figure, Nigeriaaccounts for 17, 700.Lack of attention to the disease has caused too few children to have access to currently available interventions. Vaccination has a vital role to play especially when available, affordable and accessible," MWAN said in a statement.

"The initiative to form a Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia was taken in April 2009. The goal was to create awareness and to encourage governments and other efforts to support the implementation of a range of proven measures to combat the disease through prevention and treatment. This include donors, policymakers, healthcare professionals and the general public.

"Three years ago, November 12 was set aside to celebrate globally World Pneumonia Day to provide an annual forum for the world to stand together and demand more attention on the disease and intensify the fight against the disease. The coalition co-ordinates World Pneumonia Day and presents a yearly report. In 2011, the Pneumonia Progress Report examined data and several key pneumonia interventions –including exclusive breast feeding, access to health care facility, antibiotic treatment and vaccination against pneumonia’s four leading causes in the　15 countries worst affected including Nigeria. Even though there was some progress but it was not enough. The inclusion of the vaccine into the EPI will indeed assist."

All hope is, however, not lost on the eradication of the disease, with the recognation of Pfizer’s Prevnar 13® (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM197 Protein) as a cure for it. 　

Approved in the United States by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in infants and young children, and registered in the same year by the National Agency for Food Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prevenar 13 provides the broadest serotype coverage of any pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and is currently available in more than 100 countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Sierra Leone　 Uganda, Kenya, Gambia, Rwanda and Senegal.　

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/health/27087-17-000-nigerian-children-die-of-pneumonia-yearly-says-who.html