Alert on better treatment of pneumonia, diarrhoea

Mothers have been alerted to better ways of treating pneumonia and diarrhoea. The treatable diseases, account for the death of over 400,000 children under the age of five yearly. They can be treated with Amoxicillin Dispersable tablet (Amoxicillin DT) and Zinc- Lo ORS.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ngeria (PSN) said it influenced the  inclusion of Amoxicillin Dispersible tablets and Zinc-Lo ORS in the basic package of health services/Essential Medicine List, to be funded by the one percent Consolidated Revenue of the Government.

According to its President, Olumide Akintayo, the move is in consonance with the WHO/UNICEF new guidelines on first line treatment for childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Akintayo said PSN in collaboration with Partnership for Advocacy for Child Health (PACFaH) embarked on a three-year programme on child and family health, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and coordinated by an indigenous firm-Development Research and Project Centre (DRPC) to domesticate this WHO/UNICEF new guidelines.

He said the flag off of the new guideline is slated for November 12-World Pneumonia Day. “A National Policy Dialogue is being organised, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health on that day, as the new guidelines have been successful both at the pilot states-Kaduna and Kano,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the 88th Annual National Conference of the Society holds in Abuja from Monday November 9th – Saturday November 14th 2015.

“We expect a massive turnout as pharmacists all over the States of the federation will witness change of baton of the leadership of PSN which will take place at the AGM holding on Friday, November 13,” said Mr Akintayo.