ABUJA – Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, says Pneumonia is only second to Malaria in killing infants between the age of zero to five years.
It is estimated that nearly 1 million children died of pneumonia in 2013 globally. According to statistics, these deaths are most prevalent in Sub- Saharan Africa and South Asia while Nigeria accounts for over 100, 000 deaths.
Alhassan made this disclosure at a press briefing to commemorate the 2014 World Pneumonia and Prematurity Days Tuesday in Abuja.
He said, ” Globally, pneumonia is the leading single cause of under-five deaths next to neonatal causes. Pneumonia majorly affects the marginalized and the poorest children accounting for 18% of cause of death in under five years and killing about one million children yearly.
Globally, evidence has shown that pneumonia death can be substantially reduced with simple practices such as early and exclusive breast feeding, vaccination, hand washing with soap and water, safe environment via reduction in air pollution, etc. especially if persistent and integrated approach is adopted”.
To improve continuum of care along the health system, the Integrated Community Case Management ( ICCM), of pneumonia, diarrheoa and malaria was also adopted as a cornerstone strategy for tackling these major causes of under – five deaths particularly pneumonia in the community,” he said.
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