Government officials from Bangladesh committed to reaching global targets of reducing child pneumonia to 3 pneumonia deaths per 1000 live births in ‘Global Pneumonia Forum’.
World’s first global conference on childhood pneumonia was held in Barcelona from 29th to 31st January which was attended by two Government Officials from Bangladesh, Shamsul Haque, Line Director, MNC&AH and Shariful Islam, Program Manager, National Newborn Health Program & IMCI, both representing Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. Dr. Golam Mothabbir, senior public health professional also attended the global forum as a representative from Save the Children in Bangladesh.
A report recently released by Save the Children and Johns Hopkins University highlights that more collaborative efforts to fight pneumonia could avert nearly 140,000 child deaths from pneumonia and other related diseases in Bangladesh over the next ten years.
Pneumonia is one of the leading killers of children under 5 in Bangladesh. More than 1 in 10 under-five deaths in Bangladesh is because of pneumonia. However, we can save an estimated 140,000 children over the next decade if we act now.
“The Government of Bangladesh is committed to reducing children dying from pneumonia to reach global targets of 3 pneumonia deaths per 1000 live births by 2025,” said Shamsul Haque, as he participated as a panellist in the national government perspectives session in the pneumonia global forum in Barcelona.
“We aim to develop a National Pneumonia Prevention and Control Strategy to ensure quality equitable access to primary healthcare and contributing towards achieving Universal Health Coverage,” adds Shariful Islam.
“Save the Children appreciates the Government’s efforts in improving exclusive breastfeeding rates and reducing malnutrition rates in the country. We will continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh in prioritizing vulnerable populations and ensuring quality treatment for all,” mentions Dr.Golam Mothabbir upon his return from the pneumonia global forum.
Most deaths from pneumonia in development and emergency context can be averted by ensuring high coverage of pneumonia vaccines, timely treatment of pneumonia at the community level and appropriate infant and young children feeding.
