The Nigerian administration has been called upon by Save the Children International (SCI) to spearhead the battle against pediatric pneumonia by providing sufficient oxygen and medications in medical facilities.
As stated by the organization, pneumonia in children under the age of five is the primary cause of fatalities in Nigeria.
This was announced on Monday in Dutse, Jigawa State, during an observance of World Pneumonia Day by Famari Barro, Country Director for Save the Children International.
“Leading the Charge to Eliminate Pneumonia,” the theme for this year’s World Pneumonia Day, serves as a reminder to stakeholders that “swift action is crucial to safeguard the 700,000 children who miss the opportunity to celebrate their fifth birthday annually,” according to Mr. Barro.
“Worldwide, at least one child under the age of five loses their life every 45 seconds due to pneumonia. That sums up to over 700,000 children each year,” she indicated.
“Nearly all those casualties are avoidable through vaccination, proper nutrition, access to handwashing facilities, and essential health services, including access to oxygen treatment at primary healthcare levels.
“Nearly a third of all pneumonia fatalities globally are linked to air pollution. The climate crisis is a crisis for children’s rights and poses a grave risk to their health and welfare,” the official remarked.
Though he acknowledged the Nigerian government’s initiatives in the battle against pneumonia, he asserted that thousands of children still lack access to the essential medical care and treatments that can cure pneumonia and preserve their lives.
“Although the Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, has shown its dedication to eradicating child mortality from pneumonia, a higher level of commitment is necessary to maintain the momentum and expedite progress in the battle against pneumonia.
“The National Pneumonia Control Strategy and Implementation Plan initiated by the Ministry of Health in 2020 requires financial allocations to ensure its comprehensive execution. With pneumonia accounting for 20 percent of under-five fatalities in Nigeria, diminishing pneumonia casualties will steer Nigeria towards reaching Sustainable Development Goal 3 by 2030. Presently, Nigeria is still below 50 percent of the required rate for SDG goal three,” Mr. Barro stated.
Save the Children’s role in the battle against pneumonia
By collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline on the Integrated Sustainable Childhood Pneumonia and Infectious Diseases Reduction in Nigeria (INSPIRING) Project, Mr. Barro asserted that Save the Children has been at the forefront of the struggle against pneumonia in Jigawa and Lagos states (GSK).
“The battle must persist, and the government must continue to lead this fight to safeguard the thousands of children who perish every year due to this lethal disease,” he remarked.
“Pneumonia is treatable if ill children have access to prompt care and treatment. Regrettably, for numerous children and their families, access to timely essential and life-saving treatments such as oxygen and antibiotics is often the difference between life and death. The encouraging news is that pneumonia is no longer a ‘neglected’ deadly disease,” stated Mr. Barro.
Adamu Isah, Chief of Party, INSPIRING Project, Save the Children International, expressed in his remarks that interventions in the regions of Jigawa and Lagos have demonstrated that the solutions to combat pneumonia and eliminate child fatalities are known.
Dr. Isah, a medical professional, asserted that Save the Children has enhanced healthcare workers’ competencies in both states to more effectively identify and manage children with pneumonia and has provided high-quality and necessary equipment and instruments to healthcare facilities for improved standards of care.
According to him, community initiatives have heightened awareness of pneumonia among caregivers and the broader public, as well as their involvement in the quality of healthcare they receive.
