THE TIME IS NOW: URGENT NEED TO TACKLE CHILDHOOD PNEUMONIA DEATHS IN NIGERIA (ID 248)
- Cyril Onwuelazu Uteh, Nigeria
- Cyril Onwuelazu Uteh, Nigeria
Abstract
Background
Pneumonia is the major cause of death among children under the age of 5 years, with pneumonia-associated deaths accounting for 15% of all deaths among under-five children globally. Sadly, Nigeria is the country with the highest cases of pneumonia-related deaths among children under five years globally, even when pneumonia is a preventable and treatable disease.
Methods
The Immunisation coverage of pneumonia preventable vaccines like Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV) and Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine (HIB) in Nigeria, were examined from 2015 to date, in comparison with other countries using the "2019 UNICEF Immunisation data: Immunisation coverage by antigen (country, regional and global trends)".
Results
Immunisation coverage (%) of PCV and HIB antigens has been all time low in Nigeria. In 2015, PCV3 vaccine coverage in Nigeria was 36%, while HIB vaccine was 42%. From 2016 to 2018, the coverage level (%) for PCV and HIB vaccines both stood at 57% each. When compared to countries like Zambia, Uganda, United Kingdom and others, Nigeria is lagging behing in optimal use of pneumonia preventable vaccines.
Conclusions
There is an urgent need to improve the uptake of pneumonia preventable vaccines by strengthening immunisation coverage in Nigeria, to arrest the ever rampaging pneumonia-associated deaths among under-five children.
