- What it is. Childhood pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, often caused by common viruses.
- Why it matters. Pneumonia is more deadly than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined.
- Who it’s affecting. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five, killing an estimated 1.6 million children worldwide each year. The majority of children who die from pneumonia are in developing countries where access to care is limited.
- What can be done. Pneumonia is treatable with low-cost, simple health interventions.
- Direct Relief’s plan. Within the next year, Direct Relief is committed to helping 50,000 kids with pneumonia receive care. By working with healthcare providers in 10 countries, Direct Relief will broaden access to medications critical to treating childhood pneumonia in the most vulnerable communities around the world.
Source: World Health Organization