By Busuyi Ogidiolu
As the world observes the 2025 Global Day on Pneumonia, stakeholders in the health sector have been charged with forming a collective effort to ensure a holistic approach to sensitising people about the prevention of the disease and reducing the mortality rate associated with it.
The Executive Director, Community Health Advancement and Rural Empowerment Centre(Care Centre) South West, Nigeria, Mr Adelanke Adedeji, stated this with various groups at different fora, which include Sensitisation of nursing mothers at Araromi Primary Health Care Centre, Araromi Street, Iragbiji, Osun State, Sensitization of nursing mothers at Comprehensive Health Centre, Adin community, Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State, Sensitisation of community stakeholders at Oke Emo community, Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State and Sensitisation of community stakeholders at Iwaro community, Aramoko, Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He maintained that World Pneumonia Day, celebrated yearly on November 12, has the 2025 theme as ‘’Child Survival’’ which focuses on pneumonia’s role as the leading infectious cause of death in children under five.
He said the activities for 2025 World Pneumonia Day were sponsored by NIYEL Civil Society Organisation Network for immunisation and vaccination under the ongoing 33 Days to Power-Up Health and Immunisation Campaign of the Safe and Secure Project to promote immunisation/ vaccination acceptability, demand and uptake to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases and death.
Mr Adedeji, therefore, highlighted the need for action to ensure that all children were protected from pneumonia through measures like nutrition, clean air, vaccination and access to proper diagnosis and treatment.
According to him, Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that causes the air sacs (alveoli) to fill with fluid or pus, leading to symptoms like cough, fever, chills and difficult breathing. It is most commonly caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and can range from mild to life-threatening.
The NGO Executive Director noted that Pneumonia is also caused by infectious agents like bacteria, viruses and fungi, which lead to inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs. Common causes include Streptococcus pneumonia, viruses such as influenza and RSV and fungi like Pneumocystis jirovecii, especially in those with weakened immune systems.
Mr Adedeji also itemized the Signs and symptoms of Pneumonia which could be difficult to tell the difference between it and cold, said the flu and pneumonia, could only be diagnosed by healthcare provider while Serious symptoms could include congestion or chest pain, difficult breathing, fever of 102 degree Fahrenheit (38.88 degree Celsius) or higher, coughing-up yellow, green or bloody mucus or spit as Others include sweating and shaking chills, shortness of breath, fatigue and lack of energy, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea and confusion, especially in older adults.
He added that those who were at risk are children under 5 years old, adults over 65 years old, people with certain pre-existing health conditions, people who smoke and people with a weakened immune system however said the prevention of pneumonia includes getting vaccinated, practising good hygiene, healthy habits, not smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke.
Participants like Mrs Adejoke Asebioje said the World Pneumonia Day sensitisation by CARE CENTRE NGO was impactful as it exposed people to have knowledge about important vaccines for children, use in protecting lungs as their immunity is not fully formed, which could shield them from contracting Pneumonia from anybody.
