Pneumonia and Diarrhoea kill 31,000 annually,Health CS

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Health CS Cleophas Mailu PHOTO COURTESY

Nairobi,KENYA:An estimated 31,000 children under five years die in Kenya annually as a result of Pneumonia and diarrhoea despite being preventable and treatable conditions.

According to the Health cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu, child mortality has been perpetuated by lack of Proper health promotions as well as prevention interventions along with access to quality Newborn methods.

Mailu said that, protective interventions such as exclusive breastfeeding,adequate complementary feeding and vitamin A supplementary provide the foundation of keeping children healthy free of pneumonia.

He also recommended children immunization, safe drinking water,sanitation and hygiene and reduced household air pollution as a way of preventing children from falling ill.

However,the CS indicated that Kenya has taken steady progress in improving child health outcomes in the last decade as child mortality has declined by almost thirty percent since the year 2008,largely due to to the increased uptake of ORS and ZINC for the management of Diarrhoea in children under five years.

“In Kenya today health,care seeking for children with symptoms of acute respiratory infection is 66% in both public and private sectors.Even for those who seek care,they do so less promptly and present their children at an advanced stage of the disease.we should strive to protect the health and well being of our children so that they live up to their full potential.” Said the CS.

The CS was speaking during the world Pneumonia day whose theme was ‘stop Pneumonia and invest in Child Health’ that he later launched Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablets,which is the first line treatment for the management of pneumonia in children under 5 years.

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