He said that out of 6.7 million cases in Nigeria annually, about 180,000 die
of the disease due to lack of adequate vaccines in the public health
facilities.
He said that the Agency had been for exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months after birth, which according to him protects children from pneumonia.
“We have been advocating for exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, but even with that, it’s just about 25 per cent exclusive breastfeeding and it’s a major means of protecting against pneumonia, unfortunately the rate is still low”.
Speaking on Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), which is a vaccine for treating pneumonia, Mohammed said that the vaccine is largely out of public health facilities where patients can easily access it.
“PCVs is largely out of public health facilities so the issue of equity is a challenge, people that can afford it go to private facilities and get the PCV, unfortunately, the people that are in need don’t get it because its not avaible in public facilities. That is what we intend to address.
“We intend to address the issue of equity in the availability of pcv in our public facilities and that will contribute in saving the lives of under 5 and fasttrack our efforts in terms of the MDGs”.
He said that PCVs will be introduced on 15th of December, the first phase will be in 12 states, 2 per geo-political zones. He also added that the PCVs comes with a lot of needs including funding.
In his address, the chairman Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa said that out of the estimated 1 million deaths as a result of pneumonia, Nigeria accounts for over 100,000.
“It is estimated that nearly 1 million children die of pneumonia in 2013 globally and these deaths are most prevalent in sub-saharan Africa and south Asia and Nigeria alone is accounting for over 100, 000 deaths”.
He therefore said “given the significant contribution of pneumonia to child mortality, its control must be stepped up if we are to meet the global challenge to end preventable child death in the near future”.
He however expressed happiness that Nigeria is making progress especially with the planned introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) by December 2014.
He further stated that it is certain that the expanded use of PVCs through the routine system will several thousand lives in the near future.
Sen. Okowa therefore said that the Health Committee in the National Assembly will work with its leadership to enhance vaccine security and financing.http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/21387-pneumonia-kills-180-000-persons-annually-in-nigeria
He said that the Agency had been for exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months after birth, which according to him protects children from pneumonia.
“We have been advocating for exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, but even with that, it’s just about 25 per cent exclusive breastfeeding and it’s a major means of protecting against pneumonia, unfortunately the rate is still low”.
Speaking on Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), which is a vaccine for treating pneumonia, Mohammed said that the vaccine is largely out of public health facilities where patients can easily access it.
“PCVs is largely out of public health facilities so the issue of equity is a challenge, people that can afford it go to private facilities and get the PCV, unfortunately, the people that are in need don’t get it because its not avaible in public facilities. That is what we intend to address.
“We intend to address the issue of equity in the availability of pcv in our public facilities and that will contribute in saving the lives of under 5 and fasttrack our efforts in terms of the MDGs”.
He said that PCVs will be introduced on 15th of December, the first phase will be in 12 states, 2 per geo-political zones. He also added that the PCVs comes with a lot of needs including funding.
In his address, the chairman Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa said that out of the estimated 1 million deaths as a result of pneumonia, Nigeria accounts for over 100,000.
“It is estimated that nearly 1 million children die of pneumonia in 2013 globally and these deaths are most prevalent in sub-saharan Africa and south Asia and Nigeria alone is accounting for over 100, 000 deaths”.
He therefore said “given the significant contribution of pneumonia to child mortality, its control must be stepped up if we are to meet the global challenge to end preventable child death in the near future”.
He however expressed happiness that Nigeria is making progress especially with the planned introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) by December 2014.
He further stated that it is certain that the expanded use of PVCs through the routine system will several thousand lives in the near future.
Sen. Okowa therefore said that the Health Committee in the National Assembly will work with its leadership to enhance vaccine security and financing.http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/21387-pneumonia-kills-180-000-persons-annually-in-nigeria
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