Ibrahim Ibrahim
A pediatrician at the Federal Medical center, Birnin Kudu, Dr. Umma Idris, said It is estimated by the World Health Organization WHO that at least one child under the age of five is dying every forty-five seconds globally.
Dr. Umma stated this in her keynote address at Child Rights Advocacy Clubs Activities held on Saturday at FGC Kiyawa, Jigawa state to mark world pneumonia day organized by Save the Children International.
She said the theme of this Year’s World Pneumonia Day is “Championing the fight against Pneumonia”.
Dr. Umma explained that pneumonia remains the major cause of childhood mortality especially among those living in low- and middle-income countries with an estimation of Over 7 million children
admitted to hospitals with pneumonia-causing low levels of oxygen in their blood, requiring urgent oxygen treatment to survive annually.
“at least one child under five dies every 45 seconds from pneumonia, which means more than 700,000 children die every year”
She said Pneumonia is a largely preventable and treatable disease but still receiving less attention from Governments and other stakeholders.
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“We are doing better and we still need to show more commitments in terms of training, creating more awareness of the populace in Jigawa and Nigeria”
“Air Pollution, malnutrition, lack of PVC immunization are the leading causes of pneumonia among children”
The Child Rights Advocacy Clubs however called for Governments and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the provision of oxygen cylinders to all the pediatric wards in health facilities in Jigawa state to minimize the children’s deaths.
The Permanent Secretary Jigawa State Ministry of Health Dr. Salisu Mu’azu said Government had institutionalized an oxygen policy and supply management system.
“We have made oxygen to be part of medicines and would soon start procurement and supply of Oxygen therapy in each of the primary healthh care facilities across the state for the emergency treatment of pneumonia patients” the Permanent Secretary stated.
He therefore commended Save the Children International for complementing state government efforts in fighting against pneumonia.
