The International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC) recently released its annual Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report. IVAC, established in 2009, plays a crucial role in fostering equitable access to vaccines by creating, synthesizing, and leveraging evidence to guide decisions and actions. Located in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, it measures progress across key indicators in countries with high burdens of pneumonia and diarrhoea among under-five children.
Key Insights from the Report
The report evaluates progress using ten high-impact indicators delineated in the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD). These include breastfeeding, immunisation, care-seeking and antibiotics, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and zinc supplementation. This year’s report also acknowledges the emerging effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on these areas.
In 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) initiated the GAPPD aiming at a multi-sectoral, integrated approach to reduce incidences and preventable deaths of pneumonia and diarrhoea, especially among under-five children. The strategies devised under GAPPD could potentially help attain the Sustainable Development Goal-3 of reducing under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.
The report also monitors the coverage of five vaccines – Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) vaccine, Measles-containing-vaccine first dose, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and rotavirus vaccine.
Global Findings and India’s Performance
Almost all the countries included in the study face substantial issues in ensuring access to treatments against pneumonia and diarrhoea. In particular, India demonstrated significant progress in its vaccination coverage aimed at preventing child mortality due to pneumonia and diarrhoea. However, the country remains below targets for diarrhea treatment, with only half of the children receiving ORS and a meager 20% getting zinc supplementation.
India was, however, successful in exceeding targets for exclusive breastfeeding – an aspect where the World Health Assembly aims to increase the worldwide rate to at least 50% by 2025.
About Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day, which is more than what’s typical for the individual. It is a symptom of infections caused by various bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms, primarily spread through fecal-contaminated water. Diarrhoea poses severe threats including hydration, which can be life-threatening, and is particularly perilous for young children and those with compromised immunity.
Prevention and Cure of Diarrhoea
Interventions to prevent diarrhoea encompass safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and proper hand hygiene. Treatment includes ORS (clean water, sugar, and salt solution), nutrient-rich foods, and zinc supplemental treatment for the reduction of diarrhoea duration and improved outcomes.
Steps Taken by India
The government has outlined several steps to combat pneumonia and diarrhoea-related health issues among children. These include an objective of reducing pneumonia deaths among children to less than three per 1,000 live births by 2025, and the launch of the Integrated Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (IAPPD) in 2014. The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) launched in 1985 has been instrumental in reducing mortality and morbidity associated with vaccine-preventable diseases including pneumonia and diarrhoea.
Moving Forward
National programs promoting lifesaving immunizations, such as the rotavirus vaccine in India and the UIP, represent significant achievements. Yet more needs to be done in terms of the introduction and spread of these vaccines, reducing morbidity and mortality, and leveraging immunization as a key health system strengthening activity.
Last Modified: February 9, 2024