pneumonia-prevention-kids
Chitradurga
Eliminate pneumonia and ensure a healthy childhood, said District RCH Officer Dr. D. M. Abhinav. He was speaking after releasing the World Pneumonia Day poster during a progress review meeting of health programmes under the National Health Mission, held at the District Health Office hall on Wednesday.
Dr. Abhinav highlighted that pneumonia is a lung infection commonly seen in children under five years of age, with air pollution being a major contributor to respiratory illnesses among them. Fever, loss of appetite, cough, and yellowish sputum are the main symptoms of pneumonia. Lack of proper breastfeeding, malnutrition, poor handwashing facilities, and low birth weight significantly increase the risk, he noted.
To prevent pneumonia, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, providing adequate nutrition, ensuring timely vaccination, and reducing indoor pollution are essential steps. He stressed that seeking medical care within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms can help prevent complications and reduce the spread of infection. Health workers, he added, must raise public awareness and work to reduce child mortality by ensuring that children under five receive free and timely vaccinations.
Speaking on the occasion, Taluk Health Officer Dr. B. V. Girish said that from November 12 to February 28, ASHA workers and frontline health personnel will conduct home visits to identify pneumonia cases at an early stage. They will provide timely treatment, ensure case management, and refer children to higher healthcare centres when advanced treatment is required.
Taluk Health Education Officer B. Moogappa noted that the pneumonia awareness programme, implemented nationwide since 2019, has been effective in improving the health of affected children and reducing under-five mortality through education and awareness initiatives. The meeting was attended by District Health Surveillance Officer Suresh Babu, district government employees’ association director and Health Department official Bagesh Ugran, health supervisors, primary health safety officers.
