Leading global health organizations are joining with the WHO and UNICEF to take on the diseases that cause 2 million child deaths a year. The Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) provides a blueprint for deploying the strategies that will prevent deaths caused by diarrhea and pneumonia.
“Simple, affordable solutions exist to save children’s lives,” said Karl Hofmann, President and CEO, PSI. “I’m very happy to see that the new Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea prioritizes these proven strategies and ensures that we tackle these critical diseases in an integrated and coordinated way to reach the most vulnerable children.”
The plan sets out steps for key partners, namely governments, the private sector and the two UN organizations. Private sector recommendations include:
- Committing to producing quality, affordable treatments and vaccines in child-friendly formulations that are easy-to-administer and to improving distribution to ensure these products reach the most vulnerable children;
- Developing and delivering improved water treatment, sanitation products and clean-cooking technologies and supporting accessible and affordable service delivery for all; and
- Conducting communications campaigns to reach families and health providers about best practices.
