The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday said that pneumonia alone claims the lives of approximately 177,000 children under five years yearly in Nigeria, with over 800,000 children under five years of age dying from pneumococcal diseases globally.
It also disclosed that less than two years of age are the most affected, especially in developing countries.
WHO Country Representative, Dr. Rui Vaz, who made the disclosure yesterday in Lokoja during the launching of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PVC), pointed out that the death rate may be up to 20 percent for pneumonia and as high as 50 percent for meningitis.
“In Nigeria, pneumonia alone claims the lives of approximately 177,000 children under five years annually.
The PCV prevents diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria while its introduction into the country EPI will improve the child health outcome of the country and accelerate the progress of the country towards achieving the MDG4 Goal of reduction of infants mortality rate by 2015.
The Representative, Dr. Tosho Musa, said WHO has just concluded assessment of the country’s PCV readiness to be introduce in 11 states of the country, assuring that it will continue to provide the technical in all the phases of PCV introduction in the country at all level of government.
The Executive Director/ CEO, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammed said by the time the nation achieved full time national coverage of the vaccine.
“Nigeria will avert an estimated 173,000 childhood deaths by year 2018.”
He assured that the Federal government would ensure the availability of life saving vaccines for the Nigeria child and achieving the MDG4 goals.
Representative of the manufacturer of the drug, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Dr. Bode Adesoji said the launch of the drug in Nigeria is a significant step towards achieving the MDG4 goal in the country.
Adesoji said the PVC would bring a remarkable improvement in the reduction of maternal mortality rate in the country.
