Infections remain major causes of child mortality rate says UNIILORIN Don

Date: 2022-12-05

University of Ilorin lecturer and Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aishatu Ahmed Gobir has said that infections remain major causes of mortality and morbidity in children, particularly those under the age of five years.

Gobir stated this while delivering the 219th Inaugural Lecture of Unilorin, entitled: 'Child Survival: Obstacles and Opportunities Through the Eyes of a Paediatrician in Practice and Research”.

According to her: ” the main challenges in early life stem from infectious diseases, especially those affecting the respiratory system like bacterial pneumonia.”

She disclosed that respiratory Infections are diseases caused by different organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, protozoa and others.

“When these disease-causing organisms invade the human body, they result in acute or chronic disease after an incubation period. Infectious diseases are common causes of illnesses and deaths among children”, she said.

She identified malnutrition, lack of immunization, lack of exclusive breastfeeding as risk and predisposing factors responsible for respiratory Infections.

Other factors mentioned includes environmental factors. “Poor housing with poor ventilation and indoor crowding, exposure to indoor pollutants such as cigarette smoke, biomass from cooking, automobile and industrial pollutants are recognized factors associated with more episodes of acute respiratory Infections and mortality.

“Large families increase the chances of child mixing with adults with respiratory infections, thereby creating a clear risk for the transmission of microbes. Day-care attendance also offers opportunities for the transmission of respiratory microbes among many children with suboptimal immune protection “, she added.

Gobir, who described Paediatrics as a branch of medicine that specifically deals with the health and care of those from birth to adolescents, referred to child health as a state of physical, mental, social, emotional and intellectual well-being and not merely the absence of diseases.

Proffering solutions to child mortality rates, Gobir said that routine immunization remains effective and efficient in controlling many of the respiratory diseases.

She called for the revitalization of the primary health care which will eliminate complications that may arise from a late presentation at the higher levels of health care which are not geographically accessible to those in rural areas.

She mentioned microcredit schemes and social security for families need to be strengthened, hygienic practices, sustainability of the school feeding programme, while research and development must focus on the areas of needs because it is a major opportunity for child survival.

“Improve personal hygiene by observing cough etiquettes (covering the month while coughing and turning away from people), sneezing into a bent elbow, washing hands with soap and water to remove germs picked up from surfaces, sneezing or coughing.

“Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of cases, strengthening routine immunization, exclusive breastfeeding, provision of micronutrient supplementation and reduction of household pollutants such as smoking and cooking with charcoal and kerosene stove among others”, Gobir added.

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Jumoke Gafar     Kassim Babamale     Alaiye     Oloje     Oladimeji Thompson     Eleyele     Jare Olatundun     Salake     Funke Adedoyin     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     Bayo Ojo     Akanji     Ibrahim Gambari     Rotimi Atere     Usman Alkali Baba     Yakub Ali-Agan     Magaji Nda     Mohammed Saidu     Okin Malt     Sabi     SUBEB     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Elerinjare     Fatimat Saliu     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     NIPR     Olawuyi     Musa Abdullahi     Eruku     Shuaib Olarongbe     George Funsho Adebayo     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Fatimoh Lawal     Saliu Ajia     Photo News     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Alfa Yahaya Road     Oniwa     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Sherif Sagaya     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Omotosho     Bond     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Ojuekun     Olatunji Moronfoye     Emmanuel Bello     Olupako Of Share     Babaita     Ramadhan     Ilorin East     CUTI     2023 Elections     Musa Alhassan Buge     CBT     Bayo Lawal     Osinbajo     Ado Bayero     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Adaramaja     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Wahab Agbaje     Shonga Farm Project     Ilorin West     Ilorin South     Yashikira     Ndakene     Sherif Shagaya     Awoye     Yahya Mohammed     Frootify    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Abdulrazaq Sanni     Laduba     Paul Olawoore     Musa Abdullahi     Adebayo Salami     Zaratu Umar     Adisa Logun     Ogidi-Oloje     Sobi FM     ASUU     Kwara Pdp     Bilikis Oladimeji     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Okedare     Theophilus Oyebiyi     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Bayo Ajia     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Turaki Of Ilorin     Otoge     Ekiti     EndSARS     Ilorin Emirate     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Congress For National Consensus     CLAY POT     08001000100     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Sadiq Buhari     FERMA     Aliyu Adebayo     Saka Abimbola Isau     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Shaaba Lafiagi     Bashiru Makama     Owu Fall     JUSUN     Oluwole Dupe     Aliyu Alhassan     Kola Shittu     Salake     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Split Diamond Interchange     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Amos Justus Sayo     Elerinjare     TESCOM     Segun Ogunsola     SDP     Hussein Oloyede     Oba-Solagberu     Joseph Bamigboye     Ayobami Akanbi     Adedipe     Egbewole     Ekweremadu     Dan-Kazeem     Tunde Yusuf     SUBEB     Innocent Okoye     Abdulwaheed Musa     Talaka Parapo     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Muhammadu Gobir     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Sabo-Oke     Titus Ashaolu     Najim Yaasin     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Jawondo     Sam Onile     Muritala Olarewaju     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Adedeji Onimago