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?Our Children Cannot Continue to Die?
06.16.2010
Worried by high child mortality arising from pneumonia in Cross River State, a campaign to kick out the disease was flagged off recently in Biase Local Government Area of the state by the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke. ROLAND OGBONNAYA writes
Women and children, including the men waited patiently for the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke to arrive for the event to start. And as she arrived the headquarters of Biase Local Government, the environment was electrified by her charm and candour. Mrs. Imoke was at the area to flag off the campaign for the fight against pneumonia, which doctors in the state say is killing children in their dozens.
According to experts, pneumonia is a lung infection that can make one very sick. The person may cough, run a fever, and have hard time breathing. For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in two to three weeks. But older adults, babies, and people with other diseases can become very ill. They may need to be in the hospital. One can get pneumonia in his daily life, such as at school or work. This is called community-associated pneumonia. One can also get it when he is in a hospital or nursing home. This is called healthcare-associated pneumonia. It may be more severe because one is already ill.
Pneumonia usually starts when one breathe the germs into the lungs. One may be more likely to get the disease after having a cold or flu. These illnesses make it hard for ones lungs to fight infection, so it is easier to get pneumonia. Having a long-term, or chronic, disease like asthma, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes also makes you more likely to get pneumonia.
Symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria usually come on quickly. They may include cough. The victim would likely cough up mucus (sputum) from the lungs and the mucus may be rusty or green or tinged with blood. Fast breathing and feeling short of breath. There is also shaking and "teeth-chattering" chills. One may have this only one or many times.
Some patients also complain of chest pain that often feels worse when pone coughs or breathes in, feeling very tired or feeling very weak. Older adults may have different, fewer, or milder symptoms. They may not have a fever. Or they may have a cough but not bring up mucus. The main sign of pneumonia in older adults may be a change in how well they think. Confusion or delirium is common. Or, if they already have a lung disease, that disease may get worse.
Symptoms caused by viruses are the same as those caused by bacteria. But they may come on slowly and often are not as obvious or as bad. Ones doctor will ask the patient about his/her symptoms and do a physical exam. He or she may order a chest X-ray and a blood test. This is usually enough for a doctor to know if one has pneumonia. The patient may need more tests if he has bad symptoms, an older adult, or has other health problems.
A Nigerian child dies from pneumonia, every 15 seconds. Pneumonia is a deadly disease and this silent killer affects more than 20 million children across the country. As part of her efforts to bring pneumonia under control, Mrs. Imoke, flagged off a ?Kick out Pneumonia? campaign in Biase Local Government Area, about 45km from Calabar. The event was scheduled as part of activities to mark the Children?s Day celebrations in the State.
In line with her one of her initiatives, a state fit for a child (asFac), Imoke?s primary concern is ensuring the social, health, education and legal well being of the Cross River State child. Health partners and stakeholders as well as women from all works of life converged at the Biase Local Government Headquarters to be part of the event. The theme for the event was ?Reducing Pneumonia Disease Through Collaborative Approach.?
Pneumonia is considered to be more deadly than malaria and diarrhoea, and is one of the fastest killers among women and children. A severe attack of the disease could kill a child in just four hours. ?A child does not deserve to die because of pneumonia,? Imoke said. ?Ignorance plays a huge part in the number of casualties this disease claims each year.?
According to medical experts, early detection of the ailment could help to drastically reduce its mortality rate, particularly among children. Explaining symptoms of the disease to the participants, Imoke urged the mothers to watch out carefully for these signs and report to the nearest hospital as soon as they are spotted. She reminded the participants that the State had provided as one of its gender friendly schemes free health care for all children under the ages of five as well as for pregnant mothers and urged them to take full advantage of the facility, adding that there would be no excuse for erring mothers. ?We have started the process of putting in place laws that will prosecute mothers whose children die from pneumonia and other preventable disease.?
Atana Ewa, one of the participating doctors, explained the importance of immunisation as a preventive measure. ?Whooping cough and measles immunization as well as breast feeding help to build up the body?s defences against pneumonia? she said. Alarmingly, as the medical team carried out free consultations at the event, it was discovered that most of the mothers did not even know that their children had pneumonia. ?I am happy to say that we have treated some cases of pneumonia here. Pneumonia is transferable and could also affect mothers.? She advised mothers to more cautious with their children?s health as well as theirs.
Mrs. Imoke has been passionate about improving the health and economic status of the less privileged women and children in Cross River State. Her various gender friendly programmes speak boldly of her determination to affect positively the lives of as many women and children in Cross River State particularly in the rural areas. ?My husband says government is about serving the people who need government the most. Most of these people are in the Local Government Areas,? she reiterated. The programme also featured free medical consultations and a de worming exercise.