A four-month-long campaign on social awareness and action plan to neutralize pneumonia in Dimapur district was launched at Dimapur civil hospital on Friday.
The campaign, launched by Dimapur chief medical officer Dr. I Moatemjen, will conclude on February 28 next year.
In her keynote address, Dr. Rebecca Y Sema, district programme officer, usual interstitial pneumonia/reproductive and child health, said the main objective of the campaign is to reduce child mortality due to pneumonia by creating awareness in the community and improving clinical management of the disease.
During the four-month campaign, she said, the main focus will be on awareness generation and early intervention and capacity building of caregivers to identify critical early signs and symptoms of pneumonia.
Sema oriented the members on the PPT (Protect, Prevent and Treatment) interventions to save children from pneumonia. She said a child can be protected from pneumonia by early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
“Pneumonia can be prevented by fully immunizing a child, reducing indoor air pollution and following practices such as regular handwashing with soap,” Sema stated.
She urged people to seek early treatment in hospitals if the child has signs and symptoms such as fever, cough, fast breathing, and chest indrawing. Early detection of the signs and symptoms, and seeking early treatment can reduce child mortality due to pneumonia, she added.