High pneumonia infection rates worry experts

Nov 09, 2015

EXPERTS have warned that if strategic measures are not taken to address the high infection rate of pneumonia among children under five years, it may become Uganda''s leading killer disease

By Saudha Nakandha

 

EXPERTS have warned that if strategic measures are not taken to address the high infection rate of pneumonia among children under five years, it may become Uganda's leading killer disease.

 

"In Uganda it has been the second highest cause of death in children after malaria in children but it will soon take over as the leading killer disease," said Dr. Godfrey Magumba, the country director Malaria Consortium.

 

He was addressing journalists at their offices in Naguru ahead of the World Pneumonia Day, celebrated every 12th of November. This year's theme is "Universal Access to Prevention and Care for Pneumonia".

 

"Evidence shows that children are dying from the disease due to the unavailability of effective interventions like proper nutrition, vaccination, hand washing with soap and low emission cooking stoves," Magumba said.

 

Uganda is one of the countries still struggling with the increasing number of pneumonia cases among children under the age of five.

 

Statistics from the Health Ministry show that in the past, Pneumonia was annually responsible for the death of 39,000 people. This however has risen to 40,000 plus in the last year.

 

The 2014 Pneumonia Fact sheet ranks Uganda as 8th in the number of pneumonia deaths in the world. Another report from UNICEF also indicates that all deaths occurring as a result of pneumonia happen in rural and poor communities.

 

Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lungs.  It is caused by a bacterial infection, but it can also be caused by a virus, fungus, or parasite. It presents symptoms like cough, flu, fever, difficulty in breathing; signs that may be mistaken for malaria. 

 

If detected early it can be treated and is curable. If ignored, pneumonia can lead to permanent mental illnesses and death.

 

Magumba said pneumonia presents financial costs to both the country and families as children affected by the disease become vulnerable to various illnesses like meningitis that may become expensive to treat.

 

President Museveni in 2013 launched the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine meant to cut pneumonia deaths among children below five years.

 

Magumba advised parents to take their children for regular checkups and routine immunisation and urged government to train health officials on better ways of managing the disease.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});