UNICEF: New pneumonia and meningitis vaccine in Bangladesh

KHULNA, Bangladesh, 12 February 2009 One recent morning, the general paediatric ward of Khulna Shishu childrens hospital, southwest of Dhaka, was crammed with patients and their attendants. Among the 16 children under the age of five admitted there some of them crying in pain and discomfort 12 were suffering from pneumonia.

For those lacking access to treatment, the illness can be fatal. One in four deaths among children under five in Bangladesh is due to pneumonia.

Because so many children still die of pneumonia in Bangladesh, the recent introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine as part of the routine immunization programme marks an important move towards reducing child mortality.

The vaccine protects children against the deadly bacterium Hib, which causes some severe forms of pneumonia and meningitis. According to studies, the vaccine could prevent about one third of life-threatening cases of bacterial pneumonia and up to 80 per cent of probable bacterial meningitis cases in Bangladesh.

To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/bangladesh_48001.html

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNICEF
• Bangladesh
• pneumonia
• meningitis
• vaccine
• children
• health

[medavog]

Thank you for the update!