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Latest News Malaria consortium says every breath counts in its fight against pneumonia

Malaria Consortium says every breath counts in its fight against pneumonia

12 November 2014

London, 12 November 2014 - On this sixth annual World Pneumonia Day, Malaria Consortium and its partners are organising different events throughout the world to raise awareness on pneumonia, the biggest killer of children under the age of five among all infectious diseases.

“Malaria Consortium is delighted to be convening World Pneumonia Day this year as a member of the Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia,” Charles Nelson, Malaria Consortium’s Chief Executive said. “We are fully committed to defeating this devastating disease.” Malaria Consortium is fighting pneumonia by bringing diagnosis and treatment closer to the homes of those who need it most and, promoting the rational use of antibiotics. “Children not only need more appropriate, but also much faster care. This approach is both lifesaving and cost saving for many of the poorest families throughout the world,” he added.

Malaria Consortium is supporting awareness raising events and activities involving government and other partners in a number of country programmes, helping to underline the need for strengthened commitment to reach every child in these high burden countries.

Malaria Consortium Cambodia is bringing together local health officials and NGO partners working in Ratanakiri province to discuss the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded Pneumonia Diagnostics Project, its progress and the role of community health workers and front line health facility workers in managing pneumonia.

In Ethiopia, Malaria Consortium Ethiopia has released radio messages and sent out brochures in the local the local Amharic language to reach the ones who need it most. Malaria Consortium is collaborating with the regional health bureau to host a panel discussion on the achievements of integrated community case management (iCCM) programmes in Ethiopia, challenges and the way forward on pneumonia diagnosis and treatment. Participating in the discussion will be government representatives, nongovernmental organisations and other partners working on child health, including national and local health officials.

Malaria Consortium South Sudan has organised various events in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and other partners, including Q&A sessions on pneumonia aired in the local Dinka language on a community radio station and in English on the United Nation’s Mission radio and a TV show. In Aweil, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, where Malaria Consortium runs iCCM and pneumonia diagnostics projects, a representative of the State Ministry of Health will be addressing a public gathering and Malaria Consortium will make a speech on behalf of project partners at the Aweil State Referral Hospital. Later on, they will organise a parade in the streets of the country’s capital, Juba, after which partners in child health, such as the ministry of health, local and national health officials, Jhpiego, WHO, UNICEF and others will hold a workshop on the challenges at stake in the fight against pneumonia.

Malaria Consortium’s Nigerian office is organising an event in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, USAID’s Targeted States High Impact project and Clinton Health Access Initiative to raise awareness on pneumonia. The activities include a ministerial press briefing, a presentation on community health workers’ contribution to the control of pneumonia and other childhood illnesses, and twin roundtables for both World Pneumonia Day and World Prematurity Day, which follows soon after.

In Uganda, Malaria Consortium’s team has produced a short film featuring a health worker and her patients to show the real impact in fighting pneumonia on the lives of people now having more appropriate access to quality healthcare. 

More info on what Malaria Consortium does on pneumonia?

 

Country: Uganda | Nigeria | South Sudan | Ethiopia | Cambodia

Keywords: Maternal, neonatal and child health | Digital strategies | Public health communications | Community delivery | Diagnosis | Drug resistance

 

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