World Pneumonia Day 2016 is being marked here like other parts of the globe, on Saturday (today) with a resolve to raise awareness about the disease, which is preventable with early diagnosis and proper treatment. To mark the day, different health organisations and NGOs working for child rights are holding events, to raise awareness about the disease, which is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs and remains the leading killer of children around the world.
Medical camps would also be arranged apart from holding walks. President Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) President, Dr Tahir Masood said the Pakistan is among top five countries which account for 99 percent of childhood pneumonia cases. He said, "Children under five with severe cases of pneumonia may struggle to breathe, with their chests moving in or retracting during inhalation (known as lower chest wall in drawing). Young infants may suffer convulsions, unconsciousness, hypothermia, lethargy and feeding problem."
"Pneumonia is caused by a number of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. The most common causes of pneumonia amongst children include: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)," he added. Dr Tayyaba Khawar Butt, Professor of Paediatrics, SIMS said, "Preventing children from developing pneumonia in the first place is critical to reducing its death toll. Fortunately Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (pneumonia vaccine) was introduced in Pakistan's EPI programme in October, 2012, and this achievement made Pakistan to become the first South Asian country to include PCV in its national immunisation programme."
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