GENEVA: The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in its latest report said that Pneumonia remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease for children, killing a child every 43 seconds.
The agency’s latest report said that pneumonia claims the lives of over 725,000 children under the age of five every year and nearly 190,000 of those deaths occur in newborns.
“Every 43 seconds, a child dies from pneumonia—deaths that could be prevented with basic health interventions,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “It’s unacceptable that so many children continue to lack access to the treatments and vaccines that could save their lives.”
The agency organisation called for urgent action to address the gaps in vaccination, healthcare access, and essential treatments.
Pneumonia Deaths in Children Decline Slowly Compared to Other Diseases
A Global Health Crisis
UNICEF in its report urged governments and international partners to step up efforts to reduce child deaths from pneumonia, with a focus on increasing vaccine coverage.
Vaccines like the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP), and Measles vaccines are proven to reduce pneumonia-related deaths, but global vaccination rates are still too low, particularly in low-income countries.
The majority of child pneumonia deaths occur in Africa and South Asia, where healthcare systems are weakest and poverty levels highest.
Children in the world’s poorest countries—often in conflict zones or living in overcrowded slums—are the ones who are most vulnerable, it read. “Pneumonia is not just a health issue; it’s an issue of inequality.”
The report, however, highlighted that percentage of children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms declined in South Asia and Middle East and North Africa.
Children with Pneumonia Symptoms Receive Needed Care
According to a UNICEF report, more than 40% of children worldwide have not received the PCV, which protects against the leading bacterial causes of pneumonia. The agency is calling for vaccination coverage to exceed 90% to protect every child.
“The science is clear—vaccines save lives. Yet millions of children remain vulnerable to pneumonia because they are not vaccinated,” UNICEF said.
Poor, Rural Children Less Likely to Receive Pneumonia Treatment
Oxygen Access and Health Workers
One of the main challenges in combating pneumonia, especially in poorer countries, is the lack of access to essential treatments like oxygen therapy. Severe pneumonia causes inflammation in the lungs, preventing enough oxygen from entering the bloodstream.
For many children in low-resource settings, oxygen is only available in higher-level hospitals, leaving rural or underserved areas at greater risk.
In many parts of the world, there is also a shortage of trained health workers who can diagnose and treat pneumonia.
UNICEF in its report called for greater investment in healthcare infrastructure, including training more community health workers and ensuring they have the tools and resources to diagnose pneumonia accurately and administer treatments.
“Oxygen, antibiotics, and skilled health workers are all essential to save lives,” UNICEF said. “Without them, pneumonia remains a major killer.”
The Need for Prevention
Pneumonia is primarily caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and can spread through coughing, sneezing, or contact with contaminated surfaces. While the disease is treatable with antibiotics, children in developing countries often do not receive the care they need, leading to preventable deaths.
UNICEF is also emphasised the importance of preventive measures, such as breastfeeding newborns, good hygiene practices, improved nutrition, and reducing exposure to air pollution. These actions help boost children’s immune systems and reduce their vulnerability to respiratory infections.
Good hygiene practices, including regular handwashing with soap, have been shown to reduce the risk of pneumonia by lowering exposure to harmful bacteria.
What Needs to Be Done
UNICEF’s report calls for a global push to close the vaccination gaps and ensure access to life-saving treatments.
The agency urges governments to prioritize routine immunization and expand vaccine coverage, particularly in the most at-risk regions.
“Pneumonia is preventable and treatable, but only if we make the right investments in health systems, vaccines, and access to essential services,” UNICEF said.
