Ivory Coast on the offensive against pneumonia

Ivorian children are being keenly monitored as the country battles pneumonia which affects the abdomen and lungs of babies causing them to face difficulties in breathing and to cry without control for long hours.

Members of the AGIS NGO funded by private funds and other companies frequently travel to poor neighbourhoods to carry out physiotherapy.

“Pneumonia can first of all be treated through medicine. You need to meet a doctor who prescribes drugs as a solution to the respiratory problems. A psysiotherapist completes the healing process when combined with drugs. We ease the child’s respiration,” AGIS founder, Aboubakar Sylla said.

According to Ivory Coast annual report, the incidence rate of the acute respiratory infections is on the increase with more than 202 cases out of 1000 infants in 2015 as against 165 cases out of 1000 in 2014 stressing that respiratory infections are the second highest killer in the country.

“It is the second cause of hospitalisation after malaria. and it is also the second cause of mortality after malaria,” a medical doctor, Max Itchi said.

Some mothers have also been receiving lessons from the physiotherapists on how to handle the situation at home.

Parents have been warned not to expose the children to dust or smoke because of the negative impact this could have on the children’s respiration.