Childhood Pneumonia & Meningitis: Recent Advances Karachi, Pakistan January 31, 2009

MEDIA COVERAGE DAW N KARACHI, Pakistan February 1, 2009 Experts pin hopes on pentavalent vaccines A programme to introduce a new of Maternal and Child Health Division, “South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa combination of vaccines to contain Aga Khan University, said pneumonia have the highest incidence of pneumonia. pneumonia, meningitis and several alone was responsible for 1.8 million Pakistan is on the fourth number after other preventable diseases in children deaths worldwide every year – 800,000 India, China and Nigeria. Around is in full swing in Punjab and Sindh, of which were children under the age seven million people are affected by and it is expected that the vaccine will of five – making pneumonia the single pneumonia in Pakistan every year,” he be introduced in the entire country by largest killer of children amongst said. March this year. diseases. The number of children killed Despite being a preventable disease The $173 million programme is by pneumonia is higher than those affecting millions of people, this public supported by the Global Alliance for killed by HIV, malaria and measles health issue has not been given much Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI). combined. attention. Pointing out the reason, he The government of Pakistan, however, In Pakistan, he said, a national survey said: “About 24 of the 26 countries will contribute $15 million. UNICEF indicated that pneumonia and meningitis routinely protecting their children with is also collaborating in the three-year claimed 77,850 children’s lives every pneumococcal vaccines are high-income project. year. “Invasive Hib and pneumococcal countries that represent less than one This was stated by Dr. Altaf Bosan, disease are preventable. The world is percent of the worldwide burden of this National Programme Manager, willing to help Pakistan if we are willing devastating disease. By contrast, none Expanded Programme on Immunisation- to help ourselves, as there is now support of the world’s low-income countries Pakistan at a meeting of health experts available for vaccination programmes. are yet routinely vaccinating against held at the Aga Khan University (AKU) Hib vaccine results abroad have been pneumococcal disease.” on Saturday. good and there is a dramatic reduction There is now, however, support in the number cases.” Giving a presentation on the subject, Dr. available from organizations like GAVI, Bosan said that the pentavalent vaccine Most pneumonia deaths, he said, which help low-income countries aimed at providing protection against occurred early in the course of illness. introduce pneumo vaccines. It is time diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hepatitis Early recognition and treatment was for governments internationally to take B and Haemophilus Influenza Type-B critical. He stressed the need for advantage of this progress and ensure (Hib). He said it would help contain involving community health workers it is available to the people who need the many diseases taking the lives of with proper training in the vaccination it most, he added. Citing examples of thousands of children every year. programme for these diseases and said different countries, he also made a strong that community-based management case for investing in immunization “So far, we have no problem with the strategies had been very successful in programmes in order to improve the [pentavalent] vaccine that has 95pc such programmes. health, and wealth, of nations. efficacy. At the same time, training for capacity building of health workers is in Identifying risk factors in pneumonia, The event brought together a number progress,” he said. he said that indoor air pollution (burning of important stakeholders in child of fossil fuels) increased the risk to 78 health in Pakistan, including health About the status of the Hib disease in per cent. professionals, representatives from the the country, he said that an estimated Ministry of Health and EPI officials. Dr. 23,000 children died of the illness. Highlighting the role of advocacy in combating childhood pneumonia and Rashid Jooma, Director-General Health, There is no recent data available on and Dr. M.A. Arif, General Secretary, the prevalence of Hib pneumonia in meningitis, Dr. Ciro A. de Quadros, Executive Vice President, Sabin Vaccine Pakistan Paediatric Association, also Pakistan. Hib meningitis has a 10 per spoke on the occasion. cent case fatality rate and up to a 30 per Institute, said that pneumococcal disease, cent permanent disability rate. an infection caused by a type of bacteria that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, Speaking on the burden of the invasive ear and sinus infections, was a leading Hib and pneumococcal diseases in killer (amongst infectious diseases) of Pakistan, Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Head children and adults worldwide. KARACHI, Pakistan February 1, 2009 Strategies to tackle pneumonia

New strategies to tackle pneumonia and meningitis, deadly diseases. Dr. Altaf Bosan, National Manager, including shorter antibiotic regimens and simple Expanded Program on Immunization, spoke about the methods of treatment that can be implemented at home progress made since the Hib vaccine – which provides rather than in a hospital were discussed by researchers protection against Hib, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, at a meeting on “Childhood Pneumonia and Meningitis: and hepatitis B diseases – was introduced in Pakistan Recent Advances,” held at Aga Khan University (AKU) last year in November. here on Saturday. Dr. Ciro A. de Quadros, Executive Vice President of In Pakistan, the Hib bacterium, one of the two bacteria the Sabin Vaccine Institute, one of the world’s leading which causes most cases of meningitis and pneumonia, supporters of global immunization initiatives, gave the kills 23,000 children under five each year. “Pneumonia, keynote address at the meeting. He noted the challenges alone, is responsible for 1.8 million deaths annually – of treating these diseases, like the emerging resistance 800,000 of which are children under the age of five – of bacteria to antibiotics, and stressed that international making pneumonia a bigger killer of children than HIV, initiatives like the Hib vaccine are positive steps in malaria and measles combined,” said Dr. Zulfiqar A. eradicating the threats posed by these diseases. Bhutta, Interim Head, Division of Maternal and Child The conference, sponsored by the Pneumococcal Health, AKU. Awareness Council of Experts (PACE) and the Hib Meningitis, though less known than pneumonia, Initiative, brought together a number of important accounts for 400,000 annual deaths worldwide. “But stakeholders in child health Pakistan including health the general public is largely unaware of the risks these professionals, representatives from the Ministry of diseases pose to young children and the simple steps Health and EPI officials. they can take to protect their sons and daughters,” said Dr. Rashid Jooma, Director General Health, Government Professor Anita Zaidi of the Division of Maternal and of Pakistan, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health, Child Health. Sindh, and Dr. M.A. Arif, General Secretary, Pakistan Health experts at the meeting focused on the new Paediatric Association all spoke at the meeting hosted vaccines that are now available to combat these two by the Division of Maternal and Child Health. BUSINESS RECORDER KARACHI, Pakistan February 1, 2009 New strategies discussed to tackle pneumonia, meningitis

New strategies were discussed to tackle pneumonia and Health experts at the meeting focused on the new meningitis, including shorter antibiotic regimens and vaccines that are now available to combat both of these simple methods of treatment that can be implemented deadly diseases. Dr. Altaf Bosan, National Manager, at home rather than in a hospital. According to a press Expanded Programme on Immunisation, spoke about release issued by Aga Khan University (AKU) the new the progress made since the Hib vaccine - which strategies were discussed by researchers at a meeting protects against Hib, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and on “Childhood Pneumonia and Meningitis: Recent hepatitis B diseases - was introduced in Pakistan last Advances,” held at the University. year in November. It said in Pakistan the Hib bacterium, one of the two Dr. Ciro A. de Quadros, Executive Vice President of bacteria, which causes most cases of meningitis and the Sabin Vaccine Institute, one of the world’s leading pneumonia, kills 23,000 children under five each year. supporters of global immunisation initiatives, gave the “Pneumonia alone is responsible for 1.8 million deaths keynote address. The conference, sponsored by the annually, 800,000 of which are children under the age Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts (PACE) of five making pneumonia, a bigger killer of children and the Hib Initiative, brought together a number of than HIV, malaria and measles combined,” said Dr. important stakeholders in child health in Pakistan Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Interim Head, Division of Maternal including health professionals, representatives from the and Child Health, AKU. ministry of health and EPI officials. Meningitis, though less known than pneumonia, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health, Sindh, Dr. accounts for 400,000 annual deaths world-wide. “But Rashid Jooma, Director General Health, Government the general public is largely unaware of the risks these of Pakistan, and Dr. M.A. Arif, General Secretary, diseases pose to young children and the simple steps Pakistan Paediatric Association spoke at the meeting they can take to protect their sons or daughters,” said hosted by Division of Maternal and Child Health, Professor Anita Zaidi, Division of Maternal and Child AKU. Health. The Nation

KARACHI, PAKISTAN February 1, 2009 New strategies discussed to tackle pneumonia, meningitis

New strategies to tackle pneumonia and meningitis, deadly diseases. Dr. Altaf Bosan, National Manager, including shorter antibiotic regimens and simple Expanded Programme on Immunization, spoke about methods of treatment that can be implemented at home the progress made since the Hib vaccine-which protects rather than in a hospital were discussed by researchers against Hib, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and hepatitis at a meeting on “Childhood Pneumonia and Meningitis B diseases, was introduced in Pakistan last year in - Recent Advances.” November. A statement here on Saturday said that the meeting Dr. Ciro A. de Quadros, Executive Vice President of was held at Aga Khan University (AKU). It said that the Sabin Vaccine Institute, one of the world’s leading in Pakistan the Hib bacterium, one of the two bacteria, supporters of global immunisation initiatives, gave the which causes most cases of meningitis and pneumonia keynote address. He noted the challenges of treating kills 23,000 children under fi ve each year. these diseases like the emerging resistance of bacteria “Pneumonia, alone, is responsible for 1.8 million deaths to antibiotics, but stressed that international initiatives annually - 800,000 of which are children under the age like the Hib vaccine, are positive steps in eradicating of fi ve, making pneumonia a bigger killer of children the threats posed by these diseases. The conference, than HIV, malaria and measles combined,” said Dr. sponsored by the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Zulfi qar A. Bhutta, Interim Head, Division of Maternal Experts (PACE) and the Hib Initiative, brought together and Child Health, AKU. a number of important stakeholders in child health in Pakistan including health professionals, representatives “Meningitis, though less known than pneumonia, from the Ministry of Health and EPI offi cials. accounts for 400,000 annual deaths worldwide. But the general public is largely unaware of the risks these D r. R a s h i d Jo o m a , D i r e c t o r G e n e r a l H e a lt h , G ove r n m e n t diseases pose to young children and the simple steps of Pakistan, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health, they can take to protect their sons or daughters,” said Sindh, and Dr. M. A. Arif, General Secretary, Pakistan Professor Anita Zaidi, Division of Maternal and Child Paediatric Association all spoke at the meeting hosted Health. Health experts at the meeting focused on the new by the Division of Maternal and Child Health. vaccines that are now available to combat both of these