DHAKA, Jan 30, 2022 (BSS)- A nightmarish experience caught Rafiza, a housewife, when she had to fight for the survival of her pneumonia-affected two-year-old boy.

  Afflicted with ill health Sadi was suffering from pneumonia for about one and a half months as her anxious mother Rafiza visited different hospitals for his recovery.

  Even, Sadi was shifted to ICU (intensive care unit) of Dhaka Shishu Hospital in city's Shaymoli area. After a painful journey, Sadi got cured and returned home.

  Though health experts always sound alarm that pneumonia is an unforgotten epidemic, many remain callous about the demand of urgent response to this curable disease.

  Sources said the number of deaths was about one lakh in ninety's decade. But it (number of death) has been reduced in phases. The death rate has been reduced by eight percent during the last 18 years. But pneumonia is one of the main causes of death of under five years old children till now.

  The disease (phenomena) has been given special priority in Bangladesh and across the globe as well. The children are the most victims of the disease.

  Experts said premature birth, malnutrition, low immunity and pollution are the main reasons for pneumonia.

  Dhaka Medical College Hospital child specialist Dr Saidur Rahman Shohagh said virus and bacterial infection in lungs are the main cause of pneumonia.

  'Stop Pneumonia', an organization, is working across the globe to protect pneumonia. It said pneumonia is one of main reasons of death of child and adult person. About 25 lakh people including about 6.72 lakh children died of pneumonia across the world in 2019.

  It said, air pollution is one of the main reasons of pneumonia and death.

  Sources said about 7.49 lakh people died due to air pollution across the world in 2019.

  According to World Health Organization (WHO), about 8.8 lakh children aged under five died due to pneumonia across the globe in 2017 which was 15 percent of the death reason of the same age.

  According to Research for Decision Makers (RDM) and Data for Impact (DI) about 24 thousand children aged under five died due to pneumonia. But, currently the death rate has been reduced due to proper initiatives of the present government and other stake holders.

  As per the global goal the death rate will have to be reduced the number of the death to three among per 1000.

  Dr Shohagh said the hospitals and other health centers are giving more importance to the treatment of children. The doctors are giving instant treatment to the children as per the guideline of pneumonia when any child comes to the hospitals with the symptoms of cough and breathing problems. The children are also being vaccinated for pneumonia officially, he added.

  He urged all to remain alert about their children and adult persons.