SUPPORT GHANA WITH PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE

Mayor of Cape Coast, Anthony Egyir Aikins

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Cape Coast Anthony Egyir Aikins has appealed to the international organisations to support Ghana with the pneumococcal vaccine to assist in preventing pneumonia in children.

He made this at the launched of world Pneumonia day in Cape Coast on the theme “I AM THE FACE OF PNEUMONIA”   

The Deputy Minister of Women and Children Boya Hawawu Gariba appealed to traditional leaders to call on their subjects to keep their environment clean and change their attitude toward the disease.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by different types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Symptoms of pneumonia include cough with sputum production, fever, and sharp chest pain on inspiration. Pneumonia can be treated.

Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently died from the infection.

Some of the participants

Over a half a million of these people are admitted to  hospitals for treatment. Although most of these people recover, approximately 5% of those admitted die from pneumonia.

Children and babies who develop pneumonia often do not have any specific signs of a chest infection but develop a fever, appear quite ill, and can become lethargic.

The launched was organised by Afro Global Alliance.