This originally appeared on MCHIP in recognition of World Pneumonia Day.
Pneumonia is the deadliest disease among children under the age of five, killing an estimated 1.2 million children annually. Fortunately, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) can protect susceptible children, preventing against severe forms of pneumococcal diseases—mainly pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia and sepsis.
Today, on World Pneumonia Day, MCHIP celebrates that this disease is preventable with safe, effective and affordable tools. Our team has played a key technical role in nine African countries to assist the introduction of this lifesaving vaccine, including in Senegal, where we introduced the vaccine most recently.
Mother and child at the launch ceremony. Photo credit: MCHIP
On November 5th, the Government of Senegal celebrated the launch of PCV13, which protects children against the 13 most virulent strains of pneumonia, a welcome innovation in a country where an estimated 13% of deaths under the age of five are attributed to pneumonia. The launch ceremony featured speeches by dignitaries—including Senegal’s President and its Minster of Health—as well as representatives from the GAVI Alliance.
The President emphasized the importance of reducing child mortality in Senegal by providing free health care for children under five, and strengthening partnerships. According to the November 6th edition of Le Soleil newspaper: “The introduction of this new vaccine as a preventative measure will strengthen and streamline all initiatives that support the well-being of the child.”
MCHIP in Senegal has been working with the National Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and partners to prepare the country’s immunization system for the introduction of new vaccines including (including PCV13, Meningitis A, and Measles-Rubella) while also strengthening the routine immunization system in poor performing districts to deliver these and traditional vaccines. In collaboration with partners, MCHIP has played a key technical role in the Senegal PCV13 preparation and rollout through national level technical assistance and as a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee.
As part of a multi-partner collaboration, MCHIP has provided technical assistance to the EPI/Ministries of Health to prepare, plan and implement the introduction of new vaccines in 12 countries in the last five years. This assistance includes preparations of applications to GAVI for these new vaccines, immunization program readiness, post-introduction evaluation, and capacity building for health professionals.
Globally, MCHIP has now supported the introduction of PCV in Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Moreover, the Program has ensured that, once introduced, these new vaccines are incorporated into a routine immunization system that can provide safe, timely, equitable and affordable protection against some of the major contributors to child death, such as pneumonia.
