Over 300 pupils in
Calabar have been sensitised against Pneumonia by a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Society for Health Enlightenment Initiative (SO-HEALTHI).
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Mrs. Rosemary Archibong, said that the campaign was organised for nursery school pupils under the age of five in the state as part of the activities marking the World Pneumonia Day.
Archibong said the (NGO) began the fight against Pneumonia in the state in 2009 with support from John Hopkins Public School in the United State of America.
According to her, Pneumonia is a serious disease which affects the lungs and makes it difficult for one to breathe, adding that bacteria and viruses were the major causes of Pneumonia.
“When a person breathes Pneumonia-causing germs into his lungs and his body immune system cannot otherwise prevent entry, the organism settles in small air sacs called Alveoli and continues multiplying.
“Pneumonia claims the lives of 1million children every year, despite the disease being preventable’’, she said.
She identified coughing, muscle pain, shivering, chills, weakness and headache as symptoms of Pneumonia.
The CEO said that Pneumonia can be prevented through eating of balanced diet, fruits, physical fitness, enough sleeping, and others, adding that this will make the body immune system strong.
She advised parents to always regulate and monitor the breeze their children receive, either through the fan or air-condition.
She urged parents to always take their children for medical check-up, and to also give them anti-biotic drugs prescribed by registered medical personnel.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Mr. William Archibong, said that Pneumonia is a deadly disease that kills faster.
Archibong called on all Nigerians to support the fight against Pneumonia, in other to eradicate the disease out of our society.
He described Pneumonia as one of the fastest killing disease among children and adults worldwide.
A cross section of parents at the campaign, thanked SO HEALTHI for their wonderful initiative, adding that they were now educated on the dangers and preventive method of Pneumonia.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of exercise books to the pupils, and cutting of the Pneumonia cake by members of the S0 HEALTHI.
