More than 1.5 Million children die of Pneumonia each year globally

By Ahmad Alabira, Dutse

Experts in the field of Medicine said, Pneumonia is one of the worst killer diseases that claims the lives of 1.5 Million of children or more each year globally.

This was disclosed at the press briefing by the Permanent Secretary Jigawa state Ministry of Health, Dr Salisu Mua’azu and a Paediatric with the Federal Medical Centre Birminkudu, Dr Umma Idris.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Salisu Mu’azu said the state government had institutionalise an oxygen policy and supply management system in all the healthcare facilities in the state.

“We have made oxygen to be part of medicines and would soon start procurement and supply of Oxygen therapy in each of the primary health care facilities across the state for the emergency treatment of pneumonia patients”, he added.

Also, a Paediatric with the FMC Birminkudu, Dr Umma Idris, while addressing the “Child Rights Advocacy Clubs” from various schools that participated in the activities held at FGC Kiyawa to commemorate the world Pneumonia Day said, Pneumonia situation is worst than expectation.

She quoted WHO, report that said at least one child under five dies in every 45 seconds in the word. Which means from 700,000 to 1.5 Million children die every year globally.

Dr. Umma further explained that pneumonia remains the major cause of childhood death especially among countries living in low- and middle-income.

“Countries with an estimation of Over 7 million children admitted to hospitals with pneumonia-causing low levels of oxygen in their blood, requiring urgent oxygen treatment to survive annually”, she concluded.