GSK embarks on pneumonia, diarrhea awareness campaign

MANILA, Philippines - Global health company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has embarked on a campaign to raise awareness on pneumonia and diarrhea, which remain the leading killers of Filipino children below five years old.

GSK medical director Philip Cruz said the “No Hope Lost” campaign embodies the need for immediate action to get children vaccinated against these two diseases.

“With the help of our dear pediatricians and the Department of Health, we are committed to the reduction of pneumonia and diarrhea cases nationwide by supplying high-quality vaccines. These diseases account for an alarming almost 50 mortalities per day in the Philippines,” he said.

Cruz gave assurance that GSK will always “be here to support the Filipino medical community and the government’s drive to make heath services accessible to everyone.”

The campaign will soon be launched through radio advertisements, print notices, flyers and posters.

In a recent press briefing, Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines president Dr. Sally Gatchalian said vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhea are available but lack of awareness have led to the deaths of many children, not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well.

Gatchalian added that 37 Filipino children below five years old are killed by pneumonia every day while 13 others die from diarrhea.

“It’s the best time to raise awareness on pneumonia and diarrhea prevention. These diseases should not cause unnecessary suffering to young children. Sometimes, it’s just that parents don’t know enough about these diseases and they don’t know that there are actually vaccines for them,” said Gatchalian, also the deputy executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination.

Mother’s fear

According to Barbie Almalbis, songwriter and lead singer of the band Barbie’s Cradle, she used to think lightly of pneumonia and diarrhea until she became a mother to her eldest daughter Stina, now six years old. 

Almalbis recalled that when her daughter was six months old, she got sick and doctors thought that she had pneumonia.

“My husband Martin and I really panicked. We did not know much about it and people were saying scary things. We were in the province then so we decided to bring her back to Manila and her main pediatrician checked on her. We were thankful to God because it was a false alarm because it was not pneumonia. But we were really scared,” she said.

Almalbis added that as years passed, they eventually learned about other diseases like diarrhea as well as vaccination.

“When I was a first-time mom, I did not know about these things. There were so many things to learn. But with my second child Liam, we were more equipped. I was more prepared for motherhood,” she said.

Prevention

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lungs that affects primarily the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli. It is characterized by cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty in breathing.

It is primarily caused by the bacterium Streptoccocus pneumonide which can also lead to acute otitis media, an ear infection; meningitis, and sepsis or blood poisoning.

Gatchalian said pneumonia can be prevented by vaccination.

She said the leading cause of diarrhea, on the other hand, is rotavirus, accounting for 1.4 million child deaths annually. And just like pneumonia, rotavirus can also be prevented by vaccination.

“No child has to die of pneumonia or rotavirus diseases, especially since these are both highly preventable. Early protection is the key to reduce disease burden,” she said.

She added that aside from vaccination, these illnesses can also be prevented by breastfeeding, hand washing, preventing air pollution, including smoking, and adequate nutrition.