Raipur, Nov 12 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) Monday launched a ‘say no to pneumonia’ campaign in all the 27 districts of the state to mark World Pneumonia Day, Nov 12.
Omkar Khandewal, secretary IAP Chhattisgarh chapter, told newsmen: “India has the highest number of pneumonia deaths among children, at 20 percent, affecting children under five years of age. Flu-related pneumonia is also responsible for 2.3 lakh deaths in the country in this age group.”
“Chhattisgarh had the largest number of such deaths, among children under the age of five years, in India. The main reason for the disease is the lack of breast-feeding and malnutrition,” Khandewal told newsmen at a press conference here.
He further said that IAP had started a campaign in the state by distributing pamphlets and brochures at various hospitals and private clinics to make people aware about pneumonia.
Khandelwal held that the government should include the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in the national immunization programme for children under five years of age.
