SHILLONG, Nov 29: In a bid to prevent deaths among children across the state, primarily in the age group of 0-5 years, due to pneumonia and diarrhoea, the government on Monday launched the Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) programme at Ganesh Das Hospital here.
During the launch programme, Dr. P Manners, Nodal Officer Child Health, highlighted that pneumonia is one of the leading causes of deaths of under five-years-olds.
It was emphasised that while more than 1 lakh children die from pneumonia in the country, Meghalaya is also one of the states where pneumonia has taken the lives of around 800 children under less than 5 years of age category have succumbed to pneumonia.
Moreover, 15 per cent of deaths are children less than 1 month old, 34 per cent 1 month to 12 months old, and 14 per cent 1 to 5 years.
As parents and caretakers there is a need to identify pneumonia as deadly and a major concern.
On the other hand, Dr. H Giri of Indian Academy of Paediatrics, in her address, spoke about how one can identify and recognise the signs and symptoms of pneumonia, which include shortness of breath, coughing, fever, dehydration and chest congestion.
Checking the respiratory rate which the health workers have been trained in can also determine whether a child is suffering from pneumonia, she said. Diarrhoea causes dehydration in children and for those less than six months of age, the most nutritious meal is the mother’s milk.
Early and exclusive breastfeeding ensures that the child receives well balanced diet for the first six months, she added. Mother’s milk should be continued even after six months of age along with other food items until the child is about two years old.
Dr. Giri also interacted with one of the mothers present at the gathering.
The mother narrated that for her child (1 year and 10 months) she had recognised the symptoms at home and promptly brought the child to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, Director of National Health Mission, Ramkumar S, mentioned that in Meghalaya, the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) are both on the higher side in comparison with other states in the country.
“Ante-natal and post-natal check-ups are of immense importance. Interventions are needed between Health department and Social Welfare and Education departments. In order to keep pneumonia in check, a collaborated monthly review meeting will be held. It is a major concern that mothers in the state are young. In the last three months, the infant deaths have significantly come down in the state,” he said.
Ramkumar informed that ASHAs and other field workers have been trained in recognising the signs and symptoms of pneumonia.
“In spite of the mothers having multiple children, it has been seen that some mothers are still unable to recognise the signs and symptoms of pneumonia. With awareness activities to be held on this programme, it is hoped that this information and education will help mothers and other caretakers recognise these symptoms of pneumonia and hopefully bring the children for prompt and early treatment to prevent loss of life,” he concluded.
On the day, the health officials also visited the SNCU – Sick Newborn Care Unit in Ganesh Das Hospital and presented gifts of woolen caps and socks to the mothers of the newborns.