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
Atul Malikram
9827092823
Atul Malikram
9827092823
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