50,000 under-five children annually die of pneumonia

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At least 50-thousand under-five children die of pneumonia only in the country annually, paediatricians said and prescribed breast-feeding as the main remedy, reports UNB.
"Bangladesh ranks fifth-highest in pneumonia ratings in the world, with an estimated 6.0 million cases, and it (pneumonia) takes a devastating toll in Bangladesh, despite the fact that it is the most solvable problem in global health," Bangladesh Pediatric Association (BPA) Secretary-general Prof Dr Md Ruhul Amin said at a press conference Sunday.
"But only social awareness and breast feeding for two years soon after birth can reduce the number of death toll", he added.
A coalition of leading Bangladesh health organisations jointly organised the press conference at a city hotel on the eve of the first annual World Pneumonia Day, to be observed today (Monday).
Prof Dr Md Ruhul Amin said vaccine can be a safe solution of the disease, but breast feeding, including 'shaal' (colostrums) milk, is the natural medicine for the children.