Health professionals in different functions held to mark the "World Pneumonia Day" have called for raising awareness among the people about this disease which despite being easily preventable and treatable, is becoming one of the leading causes of deaths in children under five years of age.
Speakers at a function organized by the Punjab University Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS), here on Tuesday said that around 92,000 children under five die of pneumonia annually in Pakistan.
Leading public health expert and Director of the Institute Prof Dr Rubeena Zakar highlighted the risk factors and preventive measures.
She was of the view that the children could be saved from this deadly disease through awareness about the disease. She stated further that those living in slums and poverty-ridden areas were at the highest risk of pneumonia.
She argued that pneumonia was a disease of "social inequality" and marginalization.
Each child, regardless of his/her social class, deserves access to lifesaving vaccines and medicines, it is child's fundamental human right, she said.
Prof Dr Rubeena Zakar warned that pneumonia is a crippling and dangerous disease and has lasting negative impact on the health of children throughout their life.
Former President of the Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) Dr Tahir Masood said, "Pakistan is among top five countries which account for 99% of childhood pneumonia cases."
It may be noted that pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs.
When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli (small sacs in lungs which fill with air when a healthy person breathes) are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.
Dr Tahir further said that vaccines are considered second only to clean drinking water in reducing infectious diseases.
Comments
Comments are closed.