By Vinod Chandershekhar Dixit
12 November is observed as World Pneumonia Day to bring people from all over the world together uniting to demand that something be done to fight the pneumonia illness. The Day is observed annually to raise awareness about pneumonia, a leading cause of death worldwide. This year’s theme, “Every Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in Its Tracks,” emphasizes the importance of collective action to prevent and treat pneumonia. Pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents including viruses, bacteria and fungi. Pneumonia is one of the most solvable problems in global health and yet a child dies from the infection every 20 seconds. Pneumonia is a major public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Pneumonia claims over 2.5 million lives annually, including 700,000 children under five. It’s the leading infectious killer of children under five, accounting for 15% of all deaths in this age group. This devastating toll demands collective action to prevent, treat, and protect vulnerable populations. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are the most affected regions. It can be caused by bacteria viruses or fungi. WHO, UNICEF, and the “Every Breath Counts” coalition lead initiatives to reduce pneumonia-related deaths. Governments and organizations promote awareness, vaccination, and healthcare access. India’s Intensified Mission Indradhanush and Ujjwala Yojana aim to improve immunization and clean cooking fuels. India accounts for nearly one-fifth of global pneumonia deaths among children under five. Malnutrition, indoor air pollution, and poor healthcare access exacerbate the issue.
Now it is time to increase the political and societal will, motivation and action to reduce pneumonia and diarrhea. National access to Hib and PCV vaccines is a crucial component in the battle to prevent illness and death from childhood pneumonia. An investment to protect every child from pneumonia is an investment in India’s future and social justice. 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. Effective measures can prevent pneumonia like Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), Hib vaccine, influenza, and measles vaccines. Good nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding. Hygiene practices viz. hand-washing, mask-wowing. Timely antibiotics and oxygen therapy can treat pneumonia
The World Health Organisation’s new guidelines on indoor air quality set targets for reducing harmful household pollutants and offer greater clarity on specific fuels considered unsafe for use in the home. WHO has urged the world community to step up efforts to reduce children’s exposure to toxic smoke from indoor cooking fumes and increase the proportion of babies fed with breast milk, especially in the critical months after birth. We need to strengthen efforts to bring down decrease infant child mortality due to pneumonia. Clean environment, addressing malnutrition, encouraging breast feeding, timely immunization will reduce mortality rate. Let’s unite to combat pneumonia and ensure every breath counts.
(The author is a freelance journalist, writer & a cartoonist)
