KENYA—Kenya is actively preparing for World Pneumonia Day, with a specific focus on prevention.
This announcement was made during a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, where Acting Health Director General Patrick Amoth delivered a compelling message, encouraging all stakeholders to unite in the fight against this devastating disease.
Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection, primarily caused by viruses or bacteria.
If the pneumonia is bacterial, medications such as amoxicillin dispersible tablets can be used for treatment.
It can result in mild to life-threatening illness in people of all ages, but it stands as the leading infectious cause of mortality in children globally.
According to the WHO, pneumonia claimed the lives of approximately 808,000 children under the age of five in 2017, constituting 15% of all fatalities among children in that age group.
Adults over the age of 65 and individuals with preexisting health conditions are also at risk of pneumonia.
When a person develops pneumonia, the alveoli (small sacs in the lungs) become clogged with pus and fluid, making breathing difficult and limiting oxygen intake.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include cough, shortness of breath, fever, sweating, shaking chills, fatigue, chest pain, nausea, and confusion, particularly in the elderly.
Pneumonia claims between 8,000 and 10,000 children’s lives in Kenya each year, representing about one-fifth of all child deaths.
Dr. Amoth highlighted the importance of immunization against the two most common bacteria responsible for pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), in his speech.
“These vaccinations have shown a 22-35% reduction in pneumonia incidence and a 4% reduction in all child deaths,” he added.
He also disclosed that national and local governments are collaborating to increase full immunization coverage to over 90%, up from the current 80%.
Amoth revealed that the government has tasked Community Health Promoters with educating communities on pneumonia prevention and protection measures.
He expressed optimism that if the ministry succeeds in lowering pneumonia-related deaths, there will be a greater chance of achieving the global objective of reducing under-5 mortality to less than 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030—a significant reduction from the current rate of 41 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Furthermore, he emphasized the significance of communities adhering to hygienic practices such as handwashing, wearing masks while coughing, and ensuring sufficient ventilation, critical steps in preventing the spread of infectious pathogens that cause pneumonia.
Amoth also urged parents and caregivers to protect their children’s well-being, recommending they to remain vigilant and seek medical assistance as soon as they notice any indicators of pneumonia, such as coughing with difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, fever, altered awareness, or poor feeding.
Pneumonia claimed the lives of 2.5 million people worldwide in 2019, with nearly one-third of these deaths being children under the age of five, resulting in over 700,000 annual fatalities.
Pneumonia stands as the greatest infectious cause of mortality in children under the age of five worldwide, accounting for nearly 15% of all deaths in this age range.
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