Pneumonia kills one child every 45 seconds – Pediatrician

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A pediatrician at the Federal Medical center, Birnin Kudu, Dr. Umma Idris, has said it is estimated by the World Health Organization, WHO, that at least one child under the age of five is dying every forty-five seconds globally.

Umma stated this in her keynote address at Child Rights Advocacy Clubs Activities held on Saturday at FGC Kiyawa, Jigawa State to mark world pneumonia day.

She said the theme of this Year’s World Pneumonia Day is “Championing the fight against Pneumonia”.

Umma explained that pneumonia remained the major cause of childhood mortality, especially among those living in low-and middle-income countries with an estimation of over 7 million children admitted to hospitals with pneumonia causing low levels of oxygen in their blood, requiring urgent oxygen treatment to survive annually.

“At least one child under five dies every 45 seconds from pneumonia, which means more than 700,000 children die every year,” she said.

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She said pneumonia is a largely preventable and treatable disease but still receiving less attention from governments and other stakeholders.

“We are doing better and we still need to show more commitments in terms of training, creating more awareness to the populace in Jigawa and Nigeria.

“Air Pollution, malnutrition, lack of PVC immunization are the leading causes of pneumonia among children,’ she added.

The Child Rights Advocacy Clubs called on the Governments and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the provision of oxygen cylinders to all the pediatric wards in health facilities in Jigawa State to minimize the children’s deaths.

The Permanent Secretary Jigawa State Ministry of Health Dr. Salisu Mu’azu said Government had institutionalized an oxygen policy and supply management system.

“We have made oxygen to be part of medicines and would soon start procurement and supply of oxygen therapy in each of the primary healthcare facilities across the State for the emergency treatment of pneumonia patients,” the Permanent Secretary stated.

Pneumonia kills one child every 45 seconds – Pediatrician