Dhaka: Two-and-a-half-year-old Raida was sick for a couple of days. She was suffering from fever, cold, and breathing problems. Her father bought some medicines from the local pharmacy, but she was not getting well. After five days, her parents visited a nearby pediatric doctor. After an examination, the doctor advised them to undergo urgent tests, including a chest x-ray, and instructed them to bring the x-ray report within half an hour.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Sadia and Anowar, Raida's parents, followed the doctor's advice and obtained the x-ray within 45 minutes. After reviewing the report, the doctor informed them that Raida was suffering from pneumonia and her condition was critical. The doctor recommended immediate hospitalization. Overwhelmed by the news, Raida's parents were left in tears, unsure of what to do.
A survey revealed that pneumonia is a leading cause of death among children under five in Bangladesh, claiming more than one in ten lives. Bangladesh has committed to reducing child pneumonia deaths to 3 per 1000 live births, as per a report by Save the Children and Johns Hopkins University. The report emphasized that coordinated efforts could prevent nearly 140,000 child deaths from pneumonia and related diseases in Bangladesh over the next decade.
Dr. Saidur Rahman of Dhaka Shishu Hospital explained that pneumonia, caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, severely affects children's breathing as their lungs fill with pus and fluid. In 2018, more children under five died from pneumonia than any other disease. He noted that pneumonia is preventable with vaccines and treatable with low-cost antibiotics if diagnosed early. Severe cases may require oxygen treatment, which is often inaccessible in the poorest regions.
In Bangladesh, pneumonia resulted in the deaths of over 12,000 children under five, averaging more than one child every hour. In 2018, pneumonia accounted for 13 percent of child deaths. Dr. Saidur stated that Bangladesh aims to achieve a global target of reducing pneumonia deaths among children to 3 per 1000 live births by 2025. The development of a National Pneumonia Prevention and Control Strategy is part of this commitment, focusing on ensuring equitable access to primary healthcare and contributing to Universal Health Coverage.
Save the Children commended the government's initiatives in enhancing exclusive breastfeeding rates and reducing malnutrition. Dr. Saidur added that many pneumonia-related deaths in both development and emergency contexts can be prevented through widespread vaccination, timely community-level treatment, and proper infant and young child feeding practices.