Kenya's World Pneumonia Day Commitment

𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 - 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - Kenya is actively preparing for World Pneumonia Day with a strong emphasis on prevention. During a  breakfast meeting today, Acting Health Director General Patrick Amoth delivered a compelling message, urging all stakeholders to come together in the battle against this lethal disease. 

Pneumonia claims between 8,000 to 10,000 young lives annually in Kenya, representing approximately 1 in 5 of all child deaths.

Amoth highlighted the crucial role of immunization against the two most common bacteria responsible for pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). “These vaccinations have demonstrated a 22–35% reduction in pneumonia incidence and a 4% reduction in all child deaths,” he said. 

He disclosed that both the national and county governments are collaborating to raise full immunization coverage to over 90%, an improvement from the current 80%.  Amoth revealed that the government has entrusted Community Health Promoters with the responsibility of educating communities on pneumonia prevention and protection measures. 

"In the event that we succeed in reducing pneumonia-related fatalities, we will increase the likelihood of achieving the global goal of reducing under-5 mortalities to less than 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030, a significant reduction from the current rate of 41 deaths per 1,000 live births," Amoth emphasized. 

Furthermore, he stressed the importance of communities adhering to hygiene practices, including vigilant handwashing, wearing masks when coughing, and ensuring proper ventilation. These measures play a crucial role in curbing the spread of infectious agents responsible for pneumonia. 

Amoth also called upon parents and caregivers, regarding them as the protectors of their children's well-being. He urged them to remain vigilant and to promptly seek medical attention upon observing any signs of pneumonia, such as coughing accompanied by breathing difficulty, rapid breathing, fever, altered consciousness, or poor feeding. 

Globally, pneumonia claimed the lives of 2.5 million individuals in 2019, with almost one-third of these victims being children under the age of 5, contributing to over 700,000 annual fatalities.

Pneumonia stands as the leading infectious cause of death among children under 5 worldwide, accounting for approximately 15% of deaths in this age group.