Kenya is on course to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ending the preventable deaths among newborns and children under the age of five, the government announced yesterday.

Acting Director General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, however, stated that to achieve this, it is critical to address the deaths caused by pneumonia, which accounts for between 8,000 and 10,000 deaths of children under the age of five annually.

He said it is unacceptable for the country to continue witnessing deaths of children under five years to preventable causes.

“Behind the statistics, there are stories of innocence lost, dreams unfulfilled and futures cut short. We must not allow these tragedies to persist,” Amoth (pictured) said during a media meeting ahead of World Pneumonia Day on November 12.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report of December 2021 indicated that more than 50 countries were not likely to meet the under-five mortality target by 2030, and more than 60 countries will miss the neonatal mortality target if urgent actions are not taken.

Symptoms

Amoth said Kenya can meet the targets if academic institutions, healthcare workers, parents and caregivers and health facilities play their part.

“If we succeed in reducing pneumonia deaths, we shall increase the chances of meeting 2030 SDG targets. But this calls for concerted efforts,” said Amoth.
He called for targeted awareness about the symptoms and risk factors of pneumonia.

“Knowledge is the first step towards early detection and timely treatment,” he said.

He said the Ministry of Health is training Community Health Promoters (CHPs) on the Integrated Community Case Management of Childhood illnesses (ICCM).