Vol 7-18-Nov 14 - Katanning Rotary Club

Monday, 14 November, 2011POLIO PLUSThe Cold ChainWhen Rotary launched PolioPlusin 1985, the “plus” signalled thebelief that the polio eradicationeffort would increase immunisationsagainst five other diseasesprevalent in children: measles,tuberculosis, diphtheria,whooping cough, and tetanus.As time went on, the list of benefitsgrew.Polio immunisation campaignscreated an avenue for other lifesavinghealth interventions, such as thedistribution of vitamin A supplements.New equipment for transporting andstoring vaccines made it easier tocombat infectious diseases indeveloping areas.The enormous network of laboratoriesand health clinics charged withidentifying new cases of polio beganto monitor the spread of other virusesas well.And the Global Polio EradicationInitiative, which Rotary helped create,rose to international prominence as amodel for public-private partnershipsto address world health issues.The “plus” in PolioPlus means thatRotarians are doing more thanstopping the spread of polio in the lastfour countries in which it is endemic;they also are building a legacy ofinfrastructure and partnerships thatwill support the fight againstinfectious disease long after polio isgone.Transporting through theCold ChainTransporting vaccines to developingareas is no easy task.From the time they leave themanufacturer until they reachrecipients, vaccines must be keptbetween 2 and 8 degrees Celsius(though some may be frozen at -15 to-25 degrees).Variances of even a few degrees couldspoil an entire shipment, leavingchildren without the protection theyneed.The “cold chain” created to distributepolio vaccine has been used to transportother vaccines, such as measles,tetanus, and diphtheria.An estimated one-third of the coldchain capacity in sub-Saharan Africawas implemented to support polioeradication.PreventingPneumoniaThe older you are, the greater yourrisk of dying from pneumonia.Because of a weakened immunesystem in some seniors, thevaccinations are not 100 percenteffective in preventing the flu.However, it is still important forseniors to get immunized becausethey will be less likely to developthose deadly complications.And tragically pneumonia is thesingle largest cause of death inchildren worldwide.Every year, it kills an estimated 1.6million children under the age of fiveyears, accounting for 18% of alldeaths of children under five yearsold worldwide.Pneumonia affects children andfamilies everywhere, but is mostprevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.Children can be protected frompneumonia, it can be prevented withsimple interventions, and treatedwith low-cost, low-tech medicationand care.KEY FACTS Pneumonia is the leading cause ofdeath in children worldwide. Pneumonia kills an estimated 1.6million children every year –more than AIDS, malaria andtuberculosis combined. Pneumonia can be caused byviruses, bacteria or fungi. Pneumonia can be prevented byimmunisation, adequate nutritionand by addressing environmentalfactors. Pneumonia can be treated withantibiotics, but less than 20% ofchildren with pneumonia receivethe antibiotics they need.PREVENTIONPreventing pneumonia in children isan essential component of a strategyto reduce child mortality.Immunisation against Hib,pneumococcus,measles and whooping cough(pertussis) is the most effective way toprevent pneumonia.Adequate nutrition is key toimproving children's natural defences,starting with exclusive breastfeedingfor the first six months of life.In addition to being effective inpreventing pneumonia, it also helps toreduce the length of the illness if achild does become ill.Addressing environmental factorssuch as indoor air pollution (byproviding affordable clean indoorstoves, for example) and encouraginggood hygiene in crowded homes alsoreduces the number of children whofall ill with pneumonia.In children infected with HIV, theantibiotic cotrimoxazole is givendaily to decrease the risk ofcontracting pneumonia.Checking for pneumoniaRotary Club of Katanning Page 13