As the world observed pneumonia day earlier this month we were reminded that the disease kills a child every 30 seconds globally while in Pakistan 92,000 children die annually due to pneumonia.

Despite being the first South Asian nation to offer free pneumonia vaccine in our national immunisation programme, Pakistan still stands among the top five countries which account for 99 per cent of childhood pneumonia cases.

Experts claim lack of awareness, illiteracy and reluctance of parents on baseless religious grounds as the prime reasons behind the 46pc of children remaining unvaccinated throughout the country.

The troika of parents, government and medical staff can work together to control pneumonia

According to an Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) official, who preferred not to give his name, the most effective way for controlling the deadly disease is immunisation. “It is the most profitable health investment for children’s lives and this cost-effective investment can save millions of children from dying of pneumonia,” he said. Vaccines against pneumococcus, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), pertussis, and measles can prevent a significant portion of pneumonia cases from ever occurring. Increase in vaccine coverage would also save 2.9 million lives and prevent 52m cases of illness.

There is a dire need for parents to be educated so that they understand the importance of getting their children vaccinated. “This way child mortality can be reduced in Pakistan — one of the Millennium Development Goals. In 2013, according to a World Bank survey, there were 85.5 deaths per 1,000 children under five years of age,” the official added.

He said that fortunately, a comprehensive strategy has been in place in Pakistan with the help of global donor agencies. The Expanded Programme on immunisation was launched in Pakistan during 1976. Today it is providing vaccines to every child of Pakistan free of cost. The EPI aims to protect children against nine vaccine preventable diseases; polio, tuberculosis, pertussis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, Hib, measles and pneumonia, of which pneumonia is the latest addition. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was introduced in Pakistan’s immunisation programme in October 2012.

This achievement made Pakistan the first South Asian country to include PCV in its national immunisation programme. The EPI centres provide free of cost vaccination which protects children from the devastating impact of pneumonia.

 “The severity of pneumonia is an eye opener and Pakistan is among the top five countries which are most affected from the disease which kills more children than Aids, malaria and measles combined,” he revealed.

Prevention of pneumonia is not just the responsibility of the government, but every citizen should play their role in preventing its prevalence around the country. Parents, the government and the medical fraternity are interdependent and their joint struggle can lead to disease control and reducing the death toll.

The efforts in preventing pneumonia also help reduce the financial burden of parents that occur in seeking treatment while eliminating the damage due to illness and save patient and family from mental suffering. That’s why we always say prevention is better than cure.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, November 29th, 2015