The Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, says Pneumonia is a serious killer disease among infants between the age of zero to five years.

Alhassan made this disclosure at a press briefing to commemorate the 2014 World  Pneumonia and Prematurity Days Tuesday in Abuja.

The Minister said, ” Globally, pneumonia is the leading single cause of under-five deaths next to neonatal causes. Pneumonia majorly affects the marginalized and the poorest children accounting for  18% of cause of death in under five years and killing about one million children yearly.

Globally,  evidence has shown that pneumonia death can be substantially reduced with simple practices such as early and exclusive breast feeding, vaccination, hand washing with soap and water, safe environment via reduction in air pollution, etc. especially if persistent and integrated approach is adopted”.

“To improve continuum of care along the health system, the Integrated Community Case Management ( ICCM), of pneumonia, diarrheoa  and malaria was also adopted as a cornerstone strategy for tackling  these major causes  of under – five deaths particularly pneumonia in the community,” he said.