Lack of pneumonia info killing kids: Ruhal

Thousands of children die of pneumonia in Bangladesh only due to lack of awareness, the health minister has said, reports bdnews24.com. Dr A F M Ruhal Haque said Friday, a day ahead of World Pneumonia Day, awareness about the danger signs could save those children. "Take your kids to hospitals or doctors if breathing problem is noticed," he said at a non-government organisation Poriprekkhit-organised ceremony to award journalists for pneumonia reporting in the capital. In pneumonia, mostly caused by bacteria, children face difficulty in breathing, apart from high fever. The minister said drugs needed to treat the lung infection is 'available everywhere and free in government hospitals'. "But parents do not know when to rush to the hospital," he said and urged media to help generate awareness. At the same time, he also asked professionals to find a way to reach the people in the remote areas who 'suffer most but cannot read newspaper info'. Experts say pneumonia is the biggest baby killer in Bangladesh, supported by widespread malnutrition and poor hygiene. The 'dangerous' lung disease, according to the ministry of health, accounts for 18 per cent of deaths under five, creating pressure on achieving Millennium Development Goal-4 that necessitates curtailing child deaths from current 60 to 48 per 1,000 births by 2015. Pediatricians say exclusive breastfeeding can curb pneumonia by 15 to 23 per cent by boosting their immune systems. Besides, pneumococcus vaccines against the bacterium can keep kids away from the infection. But the vaccine cannot be found in the government's child immunisation schedule.