Pneumonia Killing More Than Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Measles Combined – CSOs
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across Africa on Monday said that pneumonia has continued to be the lead killer disease of children under five years; more than Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Measles combined, urging governments in the continent to deploy more domestic financing to Pneumonia vaccines, routine immunization programmes and strengthening of health systems.
The organizations, which comprises of Concern Health Education Project (Ghana), Muslim Family Counseling Services (Ghana), Community Restoration Initiative Project (Uganda), Community Health and Research Initiative (Nigeria) and Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association (Nigeria), amongst others, said Immunization remains the most effective strategy to prevent Pneumonia even though it is a treatable disease.
They said, the disease, which continues to be the lead killer disease of children under five years; more than Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Measles combined, is still not getting the much-needed attention it deserves.
They said, “More than one million children’s lives could be saved every year if prevention and treatment interventions for Pneumonia were widely introduced in the world’s poorest countries, especially in Africa and South Asia.
“Some countries like Kenya, Uganda and Zambia have developed district, state and national plans to intensify actions for the control of Pneumonia. Many more have integrated Pneumonia specific actions into their national child health and child survival strategies.
“These efforts are still shy of the investments required to meet the Global Vaccine Action Plans and for the disease to be eradicated completely. Only greater political will and greater domestic resources will ensure the Addis Declaration on Immunization that Africa heads of states endorsed in January 2017 is not just words, but truly serves to keep children alive.”
The CSOs however said that there is need to raise more awareness and push governments in Africa to increase local financing for immunization, improve the policies and expand coverage of routine immunization programmes so that all children can benefit, because too many children continue to die from Pneumonia.