An analysis carried out by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has shown that Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children than any other infection globally.
Nigeria has been listed as one of the countries with the highest rate pneumonia deaths globally. This is according to a research carried out by UNICEF.
UNICEF said, “Pneumonia claimed the lives of more than 800,000 children under the age of five last year globally, or one child every 39 seconds. Nigerian children made up the highest number of those who died, with an estimated 162,000 deaths in 2018 – 443 deaths per day or 18 every hour.
“In Nigeria, 19 per cent of child deaths were due to pneumonia in 2018, and it was the biggest killer of children under-five in 2017.”
According to Pernille Ironside, who is the acting UNICEF representative in Nigeria, the biggest risk factor that causes child death pneumonia in Nigeria is the issue of malnutrition, indoor air pollution from the use of solid fuels and outdoor air pollution. Pneumonia deaths occur among children under the age of two and based on analysis, over 153,000 children die within the first month of being born.
Pernille said,“Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid. More children under the age of five died from the disease in 2018 than from any other. 437,000 children under five died due to diarrhea and 272,000 to malaria.
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“Just five countries were responsible for more than half of child pneumonia deaths: Nigeria (162,000), India (127,000), Pakistan (58,000), DR Congo (40,000) and Ethiopia (32,000). Children with immune systems weakened by other infections like HIV or by malnutrition, and those living in areas with high levels of air pollution and unsafe water, are at far greater risk.”