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In-depth modeling, published on the occasion of World Pneumonia Day, also shows that more than four million of these deaths, more than a third, could easily be prevented by concerted action to improve immunization rates. , treatment and nutrition.
In the absence of action, humanitarian organizations indicate in their forecasts that Nigeria, India, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should bear the greatest number of deaths.
In Australia, pneumonia mainly affects the elderly. But this disease is the leading cause of infectious mortality in children worldwide. It kills more than malaria, diarrhea and measles combined.
880,000 children, mostly under the age of two, died of the disease in 2016, the last year for which complete data are available.
Paul Ronalds, CEO of Save the Children, said:
"It is incredible to believe that nearly one million children die each year from an illness for which we have the knowledge and resources to conquer. A vaccine is available and antibiotic treatment costs only 54 cents AUD.
"There are no pink ribbons, world summits or pneumonia marches. But for all those who care about justice for children and their access to essential health care, this forgotten killer should be the defining cause of our time. "
The agency's forecast is based on a model developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the tool called Lives Saved Tool (LiST).
They show nearly 11 million (10,865,728) According to current trends, children will die by 2030, with Nigeria (1,730,000), India (1,710,000), Pakistan (706,000) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (635,000) being the most affected.
However, the extension of immunization coverage to 90% of children under five could save 610,000 lives; providing cheap antibiotics could save 1.9 million; and ensuring good nutrition to children would save 2.5 million euros.
If the three overlapping interventions were performed by 2030, the model suggests that a total of 4.1 million deaths could be prevented.
2030 is the target date for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include an ambitious global commitment to "end preventable child deaths" and achieve universal health coverage.
To end preventable deaths of children with diseases such as pneumonia, Save the Children would like to see:
- Prices of major pneumonia vaccines have dropped significantly to allow more than 76 million infants to be immunized
- Governments in low- and middle-income countries prioritize building strong health and nutrition systems that reach the most marginalized
- Donor governments such as Australia help countries achieve universal health coverage.
Dr. Ellie Cannon, general practitioner of the National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom, visited Save the Children's health programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 50,000 children died of pneumonia in 2016.
Dr. Ellie Cannon speaks with Dr. Jean-Serge Botali at the bedside of patient Femi *, 2, who has been hospitalized for pneumonia and tuberculosis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). See here for content.
Dr. Cannon said:
"It was shocking to see children dying of an illness that we can treat so easily in the UK. Children are on the verge of starvation, their immune system is weakened by malnutrition. And even when they need medical help, doctors simply do not have basic supplies like oxygen and antibiotics to treat them. They are nurses with the same training as me. I could write a simple prescription or arrange a quick x-ray. My medical colleagues in the DRC are forced to watch children die. "
For more details, contact Alex Sampson at 0429 943 027
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