Indian Academy of Pediatrics flags off Blow Away Pneumonia campaign to alert parents, health workers and policy makers

Indian Academy of Pediatrics flags off Blow Away Pneumonia campaign to alert parents, health workers and policy makers

Jaipur,: The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) has launched a countrywide awareness campaign called ‘Blow Away Pneumonia’ to mark the World Pneumonia Day on November 12.

This is the second year that IAP has joined hands with the global coalition against pneumonia to bring focus on pneumonia as a public health issue and prevent avoidable deaths that occur each year. The global coalition against pneumonia has more than 125 member organizations.

“Pneumonia kills more children than any other disease,” said IAP President Dr. T.U. Sukumaran.

“Through this campaign, IAP wants to create awareness among parents, healthcare professionals and policymakers on the importance of preventing pneumonia, protecting children from conditions that increase the risk of pneumonia and ensuring that the disease is diagnosed and treated early,” Dr. Sukumaran added.

IAP is organizing seminars for health workers, school rallies and skits, media campaigns and in-clinic activities to raise public awareness on a disease that is largely preventable. According to the World Health Organization, pneumonia kills more than 400,000 Indian children each year.

“Parents should ensure that their children are at low risk by preventing low birth weight, providing exclusive breastfeeding for six months, timely vaccinations and good nutrition,” Dr. Sukumaran said.

Vaccinating children with Hib and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in addition to DPT and measles help protect children from the bacteria that cause pneumonia.

Very young children are most at risk for getting pneumonia. Like cold, it spreads through droplets released by coughing or sneezing, and through direct contact such as touching unwashed hands. Teaching children to wash their hands regularly with soap and water helps prevent infection. Smoke from cooking stove, cigarettes and other pollutants also increase the risk of infection.

High fever, shortness of breath, chest pain and hard and rapid breathing are among the symptoms of pneumonia.

Hindi film director and dance choreographer Farah Khan, a mother of triplets, said: “As responsible parents, we should do everything we can to ensure that children don’t fall prey to diseases like pneumonia that can be prevented.”

According to WHO and UNICEF, more than two million children die from pneumonia each year, accounting for almost 1 in 5 deaths in children under five years of age. Pneumonia kills more children under five years of age than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.

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