Lancet Series on Childhood Pneumonia & Diarrhoea

On April 12, the Lancet published a series on Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhoea led by Aga Khan University, Pakistan.  DCP3 editors Robert Black and Neff Walker co-authored several series papers, along with DCP3 Advisory Committee member Zulfiqar Bhutta.  The full series papers, comments and video message from the Lancet's editor Dr. Richard Horton can be found here.  Dr. Horton also serves as a member of the DCP3 Advisory Committee.  This series provides the scientific groundwork for the integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD).

Executive Summary

The Lancet Series on Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhoea, led by Aga Khan University, Pakistan, provides evidence for integrated control efforts for childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea. The first paper assesses the global burden of these two illnesses, comparing and contrasting them, and includes new estimates of severe disease and updated mortality estimates for 2011. Findings from the second paper show that a set of highly cost-effective interventions can prevent most diarrhoea deaths and nearly two thirds of pneumonia deaths by 2025, if delivered at scale. Furthermore, the paper estimates what the cost of scale up will be. The third paper presents the results of consultations with several hundred frontline workers in high-burden countries and explores the barriers and enablers they face in dealing with these two diseases and potential ways forward. The final paper represents a call to action and discusses the global and country-level remedies needed to eliminate preventable deaths from these illnesses by 2025.