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On the occasion of World Pneumonia Day, November 12, UNICEF head Henrietta Fore stressed the coronavirus factor, noting that “while the world grapples with the pandemic and the serious consequences it poses for the most vulnerable, we are not we must lose sight of the fact that pneumonia continues to claim more than 2,000 young lives every day. ”
Every breath counts
UNICEF stressed that medical oxygen, coupled with antibiotics, could save the lives of many children suffering from severe pneumonia.
However, the cost can be prohibitive for poorer families, as can access to health facilities with functioning oxygen supplies and trained health workers, all of which are scarce in poorer countries.
Furthermore, the pandemic has seen an increase in demand, making the shortages even more evident.
Fortunately, oxygen can be produced locally even in remote parts of the world, at an affordable cost. A key part of UNICEF’s COVID-19 response has been the provision of oxygen concentrators – devices that draw air from the environment, remove nitrogen and produce a continuous source of oxygen.
As of Wednesday, UNICEF had delivered 15,188 oxygen concentrators to 93 countries.
“Medical oxygen can help save some of these lives,” Ms. Fore pointed out.
One size does not fit all
The answer, however, is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Some settings may have reliable oxygen systems, cylinder supply networks, and electricity sources available to use a concentrator, while others do not.
And some areas face import restrictions for certain healthcare supplies or falling healthcare budgets and rising prices set by oxygen suppliers.
To address this problem, UNICEF is working with governments and partners for country-unique solutions, mostly involving a mix of oxygen sources from cylinders, concentrators, plants and liquid oxygen.
The UN agency’s response has been global, rapid and multifaceted as it has provided medical oxygen to more than 90 countries to help fight COVID-19 and keep children and babies with pneumonia alive.
Oxygen is the answer
While this complex commodity may be difficult to supply, especially in rural settings where electricity, infrastructure and essential health equipment may be in short supply, UNICEF has noted a shift in world politics.
Over the past year, governments, donors, United Nations agencies and partners have begun to recognize the importance of this essential drug in helping people recover from pneumonia, whether induced by COVID-19 or not. UNICEF calls on everyone to “amplify efforts to bring life to those who struggle for breath.”
UNICEF national initiatives
- Peru: supply of oxygen concentrators to help indigenous communities.
- Senegal: Together with the government, providing oxygen to 64 health facilities in regions with high rates of pneumonia.
- Malawi: Helped set up an oxygen generation facility at Kamuzu Central Hospital, helping to build a new “oxygen ecosystem” for the country.
- Sierra Leone: invest in the renovation and installation of oxygen systems.
- Bangladesh: expansion of oxygen systems to prevent death of newborns.
- India: Together with the government, investing in over 3,000 oxygen concentrators to support the fight against COVID-19.
World Health Organization
How to prevent pneumonia
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