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.
For further information, please contact-
Atulmalikram
9827092823
Atulmalikram
9827092823
No comments:
Post a Comment