A Child Dies Every 15 Seconds; Vaccinate Kids Against Pneumonia Now!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Contact: Jorge Alday, Public Relations Manager
(New York) - World Lung Foundation released today the following statement for World Pneumonia Day, which occurs on November 2, 2009:
A child dies every 15 seconds; vaccinate kids against pneumonia now! As the global community moves quickly this year to develop a new H1N1 vaccine and to inoculate children against this deadly virus, it is worth noting that an older infectious disease, pneumonia, claims two million children under five each year.
These deaths are all the more tragic because vaccine and effective treatment are inexpensive and widely available. On this first ever World Pneumonia day, World Lung Foundation urges governments to devote the same degree of urgency to childhood pneumonia as is now being paid to H1N1 influenza. Both pandemics require global vigilance.
Neil
Schluger, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, said:
"World Lung Foundation stands with the Global
Coalition Against Pneumonia in using this
observance to galvanize worldwide focus, with
the aim of preventing millions of children's
deaths. We call upon governments in developed
and developing countries, now and beyond this
observance, to prevent these avoidable deaths
now. As with so many public health issues, it
is political will rather than resources that
stands in the way of saving lives."
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About World Lung Foundation
World Lung Foundation was established in response to the global epidemic of lung disease, which kills 10 million people each year. The organization improves global lung health by improving local capacity to conduct research, develop public policy and deliver public health education. The organization's areas of emphasis are tobacco control, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, asthma, and child lung health. For more information, please visit worldlungfoundation.org