India’s case burden of pneumonia and diarrhoea continues to be high, but marginal progress has been recorded toward improving life-saving interventions to prevent child deaths. As per the 2014 Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report, released on Wednesday by the International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, India has a mixed report card.
With a score of 32, India ranks third lowest compared to the 15 other high burden countries for its Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) score.
The score is a calculated average of coverage levels for pneumonia and diarrhoea interventions such as vaccination, exclusive breastfeeding, access to care, use of antibiotics, oral rehydration solution (ORS), and zinc. In an analysis of 27 States, high levels of inequities in access to interventions between urban and rural regions were revealed.
Globally, pneumonia and diarrhoea continue to be the leading causes of death in children under five years, and together, account for over 1.5 million child deaths in a single year.
Of this, about 71 per cent occurred in just 15 countries, including India.
Several vaccines are available to prevent pneumonia and are recommended for universal adoption, including the HiB, pertussis, measles, and pneumococcal vaccines. For diarrhoea, rotavirus vaccine is said to provide the best protection.
The report however, makes a case for a better future, considering the commitments India has made on access to health care interventions.
India has not introduced the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, and the rota virus vaccine, but reportedly has plans to introduce the latter in the next few years.
In September 2014, Health Ministry officials met representatives from high-incidence States, WHO and UNICEF to develop the Integrated Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea.
