Kigali (2 November 2009) -- Pneumonia has long been one of the greatest threats to child survival, killing globally more than 2 million children under 5 each year—more than measles, malaria, and AIDS combined. But pneumonia is preventable and treatable–about 60% of pneumonia cases in the developing world are caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics.
On the first-ever World Pneumonia Day, the United States and countries around the world are observing this day as an opportunity to raise global awareness of pneumonia and reaffirm the commitment to save the lives of children.
“A majority of child deaths can be prevented through vaccines, early diagnosis and proper treatment with antibiotics that cost less than a dollar,” said Dennis Weller, USAID/Rwanda Director. “Ensuring better health for the world's children is a gift we must deliver, for it will be today’s children who will become tomorrow’s doctors, scientists, engineers and leaders.”
USAID’s global approach to child survival has focused on development and delivery of low cost, high impact interventions that can reach children in poor countries to prevent or treat the most important causes of child death. USAID's assistance, combined with efforts of numerous international, national, and private sector partners, contributes to the treatment of pneumonia by trained health workers for over 75 million infants and children annually.
USAID also supports vaccinations against all the diseases that give pneumonia a foothold, promotes exclusive breastfeeding for new mothers, good nutrition, hand washing, and works to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution. In addition, safe, effective vaccines are available that prevent two of the major causes of severe pneumonia: pneumococcus and Hib. USAID supports introduction of these new vaccines into poor countries through its contribution to the GAVI Alliance.
Rwanda was the first African country to introduce the pneumococcal vaccine as part of its national routine immunization program earlier this year. USAID has supported this effort together with the GAVI Alliance, World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. In April, USAID provided a 10 cubic meter cold room facility and a set of cold chain equipment used by health workers nationwide to properly store the pneumococcal vaccine. USAID continues to support the Government of Rwanda in its effort to scale up community-based treatment of pneumonia introduced in Rwanda in 2008. This approach moves treatment closer to those families who are unable to reach health facilities, enabling those families to save their children from dying of a preventable disease.
“One continued challenge is that until recently, severe pneumonia - which is most likely to be life-threatening - could still only be treated in health facilities. However, recent research completed in Pakistan shows that even severe cases can be treated at the community level if facility care is not available. This creates the possibility of saving more children,” said Dr. Alfred Bartlett, Senior Advisor for Child Survival, USAID. “We look forward to the introduction and expanded coverage of the new vaccines, which will be important in preventing children from developing pneumonia. At the same time, we recognize that treatment will always be needed; so our job is to provide both.”
