Annually, on November 12, World Pneumonia Day is marked, an event initiated by the Global Coalition against Pneumonia in Children, within the “Stop Pneumonia” Initiative and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to raise awareness among the population about to pneumonia and prompt countries to take measures to prevent and control pneumonia.
Annually, more than 2 million people, including 800 thousand children, lose their lives due to pneumonia. In the Republic of Moldova, according to statistical data, 1057 people, including 34 children under 5 years of age, lost their lives in 2022 due to pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a serious respiratory infection caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi, which affects the lungs, limiting the supply of oxygen to the body’s cells. The most vulnerable being children under 5 and adults over 70.
The symptoms of pneumonia can vary from mild to very serious, the most common being: cough, fever, chills, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, general malaise, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc. Other symptoms may vary depending on the cause, severity of the disease, age and other factors.
Risk factors that increase susceptibility to pneumonia include: limited access to prevention and care services, malnutrition, air pollution from burning fossil fuels and tobacco use, presence of chronic diseases, etc.
To reduce deaths from pneumonia, WHO and UNICEF recommend that countries accelerate action to reduce deaths from pneumonia by implementing a combination of interventions focused on:
PROTECT – by promoting exclusive breastfeeding and healthy nutrition;
To prevent – through vaccination coverage, reducing air pollution, improving access to water, sanitation and promoting good hygiene practices, etc.;
Treatment – by ensuring access to effective and affordable treatment and care services.
Pneumonia can be prevented. Everyone’s contribution to reducing illness and death from pneumonia is essential.
To prevent pneumonia, it is essential to follow a set of health practices, including:
Supporting and promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life, a practice that can reduce the incidence of pneumonia by 23%; Ensuring adequate and balanced nutrition; Immunization against pneumococcus, Hib, whooping cough, measles, flu, COVID, etc. Promoting good personal and community hygiene practices; Reducing air pollution and avoiding tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
2023-11-10 13:27:27
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