New research by Save the Children and other leading agencies shows that more than 160,000 children under five could die of pneumonia and other related diseases in Afghanistan between 2020 and 2030, unless urgent action is taken now.

Our analysis shows that scaling up pneumonia treatment and prevention services, such as vaccinations, nutrition promotion, and provision of antibiotics, can save the lives of nearly 3.2 million children globally. It would also create ‘a ripple effect’ that would prevent approximately 5.7 million extra child deaths around the world from other major childhood diseases, underscoring the need for integrated health services. 

In Afghanistan, with its harsh winters and high rates of malnutrition due to its insufficient basic health services for millions of children and nearly two-decade-long conflict, the situation requires immediate action from both the government and the international community.

Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid. It is the biggest single killer of children, claiming the lives of an estimated 800,000 children last year, or one child every 39 seconds. Although pneumonia can be prevented with vaccines and is easily treated with $1 antibiotics if properly diagnosed, tens of millions of children are still unvaccinated – and one in three children with symptoms do not receive essential medical care.

Afghanistan has sent a senior delegation to attend the world’s first ever Global Forum on Pneumonia taking place in Spain this week. This is a promising sign and shows that the Afghan Government is taking pneumonia seriously. If Afghanistan is to meet its commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals to end preventable child deaths by 2030, it must tackle pneumonia head-on.  

We need concerted action to improve policies, investment, innovations, and scale up evidence-based interventions, if we are to leave no child behind and save lives. Not only is combatting pneumonia possible, it is a must – a must for every child to be able to fulfil their right to survive and thrive. Words are not enough. We must see action. 

Besides malnutrition and poor healthcare, air pollution is yet another risk factor that can lead to pneumonia among children. And in parts of Afghanistan, the air is deadlier than the conflict. According to the State of Global Air, more than 26,000 Afghan deaths could be attributed to pollution in 2017, meanwhile the UN reported 3,438 civilian deaths due to the war in the same year. While further investment in Afghanistan’s many basic service systems are critical, including health and education, so is addressing pollution across the country. 

While the issues remain complex and require dedicated support and attention from the entire national and international community, they can all be addressed and the preventable nature of diseases like pneumonia can be just that – prevented. Let us all hope for not just renewed commitments to addressing pneumonia in this conference, but clear and measurable actions taken as a result of them in 2020 that can allow more already disadvantaged children to survive.

Notes to editors:

• For more information, refer to Save the Children’s global press release: “9 Million Children Could Die in a Decade Unless World Acts on Pneumonia, Leading Agencies Warn” https://www.savethechildren.net/news/9-million-children-could-die-decade...