Strengthening the health system response to pneumonia and other childhood illnesses
Published:
Resources: Advocacy brief
Early diagnosis and treatment at all levels of the health system could prevent more than two-thirds of pneumonia deaths.
We believe that effectively combating pneumonia requires a health systems strengthening approach, modelled on the World Health Organization’s Health Systems Framework. Such an approach entails improving prevention, diagnostic aids and health worker training, and guaranteeing access to treatment at the community, health facility and hospital levels. Referral of children diagnosed with pneumonia also needs to be improved, such as with support for patient transport and sharing of health records between different levels of the health system.
