Childhood Pneumonia & Meningitis: Recent Advances

Transcription

1 Childhood Pneumonia & Meningitis: Recent Advances Karachi, Pakistan January 31, 2009 MEDIA COVERAGE

2 DAWN KARACHI, Pakistan February 1, 2009 Experts pin hopes on pentavalent vaccines A programme to introduce a new combination of vaccines to contain pneumonia, meningitis and several other preventable diseases in children is in full swing in Punjab and Sindh, and it is expected that the vaccine will be introduced in the entire country by March this year. The $173 million programme is supported by the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI). The government of Pakistan, however, will contribute $15 million. UNICEF is also collaborating in the three-year project. This was stated by Dr. Altaf Bosan, National Programme Manager, Expanded Programme on Immunisation- Pakistan at a meeting of health experts held at the Aga Khan University (AKU) on Saturday. Giving a presentation on the subject, Dr. Bosan said that the pentavalent vaccine aimed at providing protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenza Type-B (Hib). He said it would help contain the many diseases taking the lives of thousands of children every year. So far, we have no problem with the [pentavalent] vaccine that has 95pc efficacy. At the same time, training for capacity building of health workers is in progress, he said. About the status of the Hib disease in the country, he said that an estimated 23,000 children died of the illness. There is no recent data available on the prevalence of Hib pneumonia in Pakistan. Hib meningitis has a 10 per cent case fatality rate and up to a 30 per cent permanent disability rate. Speaking on the burden of the invasive Hib and pneumococcal diseases in Pakistan, Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Head of Maternal and Child Health Division, Aga Khan University, said pneumonia alone was responsible for 1.8 million deaths worldwide every year 800,000 of which were children under the age of five making pneumonia the single largest killer of children amongst diseases. The number of children killed by pneumonia is higher than those killed by HIV, malaria and measles combined. In Pakistan, he said, a national survey indicated that pneumonia and meningitis claimed 77,850 children s lives every year. Invasive Hib and pneumococcal disease are preventable. The world is willing to help Pakistan if we are willing to help ourselves, as there is now support available for vaccination programmes. Hib vaccine results abroad have been good and there is a dramatic reduction in the number cases. Most pneumonia deaths, he said, occurred early in the course of illness. Early recognition and treatment was critical. He stressed the need for involving community health workers with proper training in the vaccination programme for these diseases and said that community-based management strategies had been very successful in such programmes. Identifying risk factors in pneumonia, he said that indoor air pollution (burning of fossil fuels) increased the risk to 78 per cent. Highlighting the role of advocacy in combating childhood pneumonia and meningitis, Dr. Ciro A. de Quadros, Executive Vice President, Sabin Vaccine Institute, said that pneumococcal disease, an infection caused by a type of bacteria that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, ear and sinus infections, was a leading killer (amongst infectious diseases) of children and adults worldwide. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest incidence of pneumonia. Pakistan is on the fourth number after India, China and Nigeria. Around seven million people are affected by pneumonia in Pakistan every year, he said. Despite being a preventable disease affecting millions of people, this public health issue has not been given much attention. Pointing out the reason, he said: About 24 of the 26 countries routinely protecting their children with pneumococcal vaccines are high-income countries that represent less than one percent of the worldwide burden of this devastating disease. By contrast, none of the world s low-income countries are yet routinely vaccinating against pneumococcal disease. There is now, however, support available from organizations like GAVI, which help low-income countries introduce pneumo vaccines. It is time for governments internationally to take advantage of this progress and ensure it is available to the people who need it most, he added. Citing examples of different countries, he also made a strong case for investing in immunization programmes in order to improve the health, and wealth, of nations. The event brought together a number of important stakeholders in child health in Pakistan, including health professionals, representatives from the Ministry of Health and EPI officials. Dr. Rashid Jooma, Director-General Health, and Dr. M.A. Arif, General Secretary, Pakistan Paediatric Association, also spoke on the occasion.

3 KARACHI, Pakistan February 1, 2009 Strategies to tackle pneumonia New strategies to tackle pneumonia and meningitis, including shorter antibiotic regimens and simple methods of treatment that can be implemented at home rather than in a hospital were discussed by researchers at a meeting on Childhood Pneumonia and Meningitis: Recent Advances, held at Aga Khan University (AKU) here on Saturday. In Pakistan, the Hib bacterium, one of the two bacteria which causes most cases of meningitis and pneumonia, kills 23,000 children under five each year. Pneumonia, alone, is responsible for 1.8 million deaths annually 800,000 of which are children under the age of five making pneumonia a bigger killer of children than HIV, malaria and measles combined, said Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Interim Head, Division of Maternal and Child Health, AKU. Meningitis, though less known than pneumonia, accounts for 400,000 annual deaths worldwide. But they can take to protect their sons and daughters, said Professor Anita Zaidi of the Division of Maternal and Child Health. Health experts at the meeting focused on the new vaccines that are now available to combat these two Expanded Program on Immunization, spoke about the progress made since the Hib vaccine which provides protection against Hib, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and hepatitis B diseases was introduced in Pakistan last year in November. supporters of global immunization initiatives, gave the keynote address at the meeting. He noted the challenges of treating these diseases, like the emerging resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, and stressed that international initiatives like the Hib vaccine are positive steps in eradicating the threats posed by these diseases. The conference, sponsored by the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts (PACE) and the Hib Initiative, brought together a number of important stakeholders in child health Pakistan including health professionals, representatives from the Ministry of Health and EPI officials. Dr. Rashid Jooma, Director General Health, Government of Pakistan, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health, Sindh, and Dr. M.A. Arif, General Secretary, Pakistan Paediatric Association all spoke at the meeting hosted by the Division of Maternal and Child Health.

4 BUSINESS RECORDER KARACHI, Pakistan February 1, 2009 New strategies discussed to tackle pneumonia, meningitis New strategies were discussed to tackle pneumonia and meningitis, including shorter antibiotic regimens and simple methods of treatment that can be implemented at home rather than in a hospital. According to a press release issued by Aga Khan University (AKU) the new strategies were discussed by researchers at a meeting on Childhood Pneumonia and Meningitis: Recent Advances, held at the University. It said in Pakistan the Hib bacterium, one of the two bacteria, which causes most cases of meningitis and pneumonia, kills 23,000 children under five each year. Pneumonia alone is responsible for 1.8 million deaths annually, 800,000 of which are children under the age of five making pneumonia, a bigger killer of children than HIV, malaria and measles combined, said Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Interim Head, Division of Maternal and Child Health, AKU. Meningitis, though less known than pneumonia, accounts for 400,000 annual deaths world-wide. But they can take to protect their sons or daughters, said Professor Anita Zaidi, Division of Maternal and Child Health. Health experts at the meeting focused on the new vaccines that are now available to combat both of these Expanded Programme on Immunisation, spoke about the progress made since the Hib vaccine - which protects against Hib, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and hepatitis B diseases - was introduced in Pakistan last year in November. supporters of global immunisation initiatives, gave the keynote address. The conference, sponsored by the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts (PACE) and the Hib Initiative, brought together a number of important stakeholders in child health in Pakistan including health professionals, representatives from the ministry of health and EPI officials. Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health, Sindh, Dr. Rashid Jooma, Director General Health, Government of Pakistan, and Dr. M.A. Arif, General Secretary, Pakistan Paediatric Association spoke at the meeting hosted by Division of Maternal and Child Health, AKU.

5 The Nation KARACHI, PAKISTAN February 1, 2009 New strategies discussed to tackle pneumonia, meningitis New strategies to tackle pneumonia and meningitis, including shorter antibiotic regimens and simple methods of treatment that can be implemented at home rather than in a hospital were discussed by researchers at a meeting on Childhood Pneumonia and Meningitis - Recent Advances. A statement here on Saturday said that the meeting was held at Aga Khan University (AKU). It said that in Pakistan the Hib bacterium, one of the two bacteria, which causes most cases of meningitis and pneumonia kills 23,000 children under five each year. Pneumonia, alone, is responsible for 1.8 million deaths annually - 800,000 of which are children under the age of five, making pneumonia a bigger killer of children than HIV, malaria and measles combined, said Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Interim Head, Division of Maternal and Child Health, AKU. Meningitis, though less known than pneumonia, accounts for 400,000 annual deaths worldwide. But they can take to protect their sons or daughters, said Professor Anita Zaidi, Division of Maternal and Child Health. Health experts at the meeting focused on the new vaccines that are now available to combat both of these Expanded Programme on Immunization, spoke about the progress made since the Hib vaccine-which protects against Hib, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and hepatitis B diseases, was introduced in Pakistan last year in November. supporters of global immunisation initiatives, gave the keynote address. He noted the challenges of treating these diseases like the emerging resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, but stressed that international initiatives like the Hib vaccine, are positive steps in eradicating the threats posed by these diseases. The conference, sponsored by the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts (PACE) and the Hib Initiative, brought together a number of important stakeholders in child health in Pakistan including health professionals, representatives from the Ministry of Health and EPI officials. Dr. Rashid Jooma, Director General Health, Government of Pakistan, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health, Sindh, and Dr. M. A. Arif, General Secretary, Pakistan Paediatric Association all spoke at the meeting hosted by the Division of Maternal and Child Health.