Let’s step up awareness on prevention of pneumonia

By Margaret Njenga

letters@standardmedia.co.ke

As we mark World Pneumonia Day this Wednesday, it is critical to focus on the consequences of this disease, especially among Kenyan children, and chart the way forward on reducing the high hospital admission rates and deaths caused by pneumonia.

Pneumonia remains a leading cause of death among children under the age of five, impeding progress of attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) number 4 (reducing child mortality by two thirds) by 2015.

About 30,406 children under the age of five succumb to pneumonia in Kenya and World Health Organisation (WHO) figures indicate 1.2 million die globally every year. This figure is higher than deaths caused by Aids, Malaria and TB combined.

According to Kenya’s Economic Survey 2013, pneumonia remains the leading cause of death among children under five. One in every five deaths in the under five is attributed to pneumonia.

It is paradoxical that this disease continues to claim millions of lives yet it can be prevented through Simple High Impact Interventions.

One of the key ways of preventing is through vaccination. Pneumococcal vaccine is available in the market, after its launch by former President Kibaki in February 2011. It is unfortunate that despite the vaccine being administered in government health facilities, at no cost, the number of caregivers taking children for this vaccination is wanting.

The poor turn out could be attributed to ignorance, myths among some communities and access to the health facilities. It therefore behoves every player in the health sector to pick up the challenge and reverse these impediments to access to vaccination services.

Another way of preventing this killer disease is through good nutrition. The most natural and affordable way of building a child’s immunity is through exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Breast milk is nutritious meaning the baby cannot suffer from malnutrition, which contributes to 45 per cent of child deaths, according to Kenya Demographic and Health Survey of 2009.

Under five mortality is still high in Kenya, at 74 per 1,000 live births, against the MDGs target of 33 per 1,000 live births, and exclusive breastfeeding is recommended as it contributes to 13 per cent reduction in child deaths, according to Kenya National Nutrition Action Plan.

Other High Impact Interventions that prevent pneumonia in children is addressing environmental factors such as reducing household air pollution and encouraging good hygiene in crowded homes.

And pneumonia can be treated by ensuring children have access to good medical care. Children with high fever, difficulty in breathing and refusal to feed must be taken to a health facility immediately, for medical examination. Use of antibiotics and supply of oxygen where necessary also helps to clear pneumonia.

Ignorance and lack of responsiveness amongst the communities also contribute to cases of pneumonia and one sure way of dealing with this is for NGOs and government to build the capacity of Community Health Workers who will help to identify children suffering from the disease, at an early stage and link them to health facilities. This can save thousands of lives.

World Vision Kenya, for instance, has explored this avenue and has invested in the implementation of the Community Health Strategy in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other health partners. Through this intervention, World Vision Kenya builds the capacity of Community Health Workers in early identification of the signs and symptoms of pneumonia (and other major illnesses) and linkage of the patients to the nearest health facility.

So as Kenya joins the rest of the world in marking the 5th World Pneumonia Day on November 12th, everyone should strive to create awareness on prevention and treatment of pneumonia.

The writer is the National Health Coordinator at World Vision Kenya