World Vision welcomes the Lancet series published today, focussing on childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia.
These diseases are the leading cause of death for children under five in the developing world, together accounting for 2 million such deaths each year.
Andrew Griffiths, World Vision’s child health policy expert, explained: “Many vulnerable young children who don't have access to clean water and sanitation also suffer from other problems like malnutrition. Their immune systems are weakened, making them particularly susceptible to diarrhoea and pneumonia.
“A condition which is easily treatable in the UK, can often push these children over the edge, if life-saving interventions are not available.”
At World Vision we concentrate on both prevention measures, such as ensuring clean drinking water and latrines, as well as treatment. Access to basic antibiotics to treat the most common diarrhoea-causing bacteria as well as the prompt administration of oral rehydration salts can save thousands of lives.
World Vision is signed up to the Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) instigated by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, recognizing that prevention and control of pneumonia and diarrhoea cannot be adequately dealt with separately but only through integrated programmes.
Current interventions - such as exclusive breast-feeding and good nutrition, hand washing, safe drinking water, improved cook stoves, zinc and oral rehydration solution, amoxicillin, vitamin A and vaccination - need correct, consistent and sustained use, as well as equitable availability and access, particularly for those most vulnerable and poorest.
The Lancet series estimates that it would cost roughly $3 billion to save 95% of the children who currently perish for want of these sorts of interventions.
The Lancet launches its series tomorrow 12 April at 9am in the Council Chamber of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPH) 5-11 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8SH