Intensify pneumonia vaccination program, expert urges gov't
The government should prioritize health programs that centers on the prevention of pneumonia among young children. Pneumonia, the number ten cause of child mortality in the country, is a disease that could be prevented through vaccination.
Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim said the government should hasten the adoption of health programs especially in its Expanded Immunization Program to address the disease among children. She said pneumonia is a "forgotten killer of children." It normally attacks children five years and below and nobody seems to mind the disease, she said.
Pneumonia is an inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. It is but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath. It is transmitted in the air by coughing, sneezing or talking.
Lim, in last week's Science Writers Workshop in Manila of which this writer was a participant, said pneumonia is a vaccine-preventable disease like diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, influenza, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, yellow fever, rabies, anthrax and cholera.
Lim said pneumonia becomes a common disease that does not ring a bell to the people unlike meningococcemia, bird flu, SARS or typhoid fever.
She said vaccination is one of the greatest public health interventions. It can stimulate immune response in an effort to protect an individual against the disease.
Antigen is a foreign substance that when introduced into the body, is capable of stimulating an immune response, specifically activating lymphocytes, which are the body's infection-fighting white blood cells. Lymphocytes produce anti-bodies.
The control and prevention of the disease which is identified as one of the causes of child mortality is slowly gaining ground in the Millenium Development Goal of the United Nations. In 2015, with the MDG's intervention, the child mortality causes should be reduced by 2/3.
According to Thailand Ambassador Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya, his country is looking forward to exchange and advance information regarding children's survival. Thailand is very enthusiastic to extend help.
The ambassador who joined in the launching of Bata Movement in Manila last Friday his country is committed to hel p and share experiences and best practices to the Philippines in coming up with an effective strategy in addressing the health issue and problems involving children.