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Dr. Orin Levine

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5 Ways to Combat Pneumonia Globally

Posted: 09/20/10 12:17 PM ET

In New York this week, the UN General Assembly meets to check its progress on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - the compact that Bono called "the most visionary deal that most people have never heard of." They'll be checking in on a whole list of these goals, but perhaps the one that most epitomizes the humanitarian ambition of the goals is the fourth MDG, which aims to reduce child mortality by two-thirds. Progress is being made on this goal but much more can and should be done, especially against pneumonia and diarrhea--the two leading killers of children around the world.

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In the spirit of the week, here are five things that you can do to help combat pneumonia, the leading killer of children.


1. Raise a Glass to Pneumonia's Last Syrah
Every time you buy a case of Syrah wine--made from a traditional Rhone grape that now grows on nearly every continent--you can help get rid of a case of pneumonia. Through a group called the Rhône Rangers more than a dozen American wine makers and retailers will contribute $10 to the GAVI Alliance for every case of Syrah sold during the month of November. So stop a case of pneumonia by purchasing a case of wine from one of these retailers.

2. Urge top political leaders to take action against pneumonia
Heads of state, Members of Parliament, Members of Congress and other political leaders from both industrialized and developing countries have the power to act to allocate funds to fight this tremendously under-resourced problem. You can tell them how important it is that we stop the deaths of more than 1.5 million children each year. Our leaders won't act unless we do. Click here to send a message to your public officials today.

3. Donate!
For the price of a Starbucks Latte, you can give a child a dose of a life-saving pneumonia vaccine or assure that children who get pneumonia have access to the antibiotics they need to recover. Just $10 can fully protect a child against the leading cause of pneumonia. The protection of vaccines not only save lives, but also increase the productivity and growth of families, communities--even entire countries. You can make your life-giving gift by visiting the GAVI Alliance or Save the Children websites.

4. Spread the word--No matter if you're online, off-line or standing in line!
There are many easy ways to build awareness about the toll of pneumonia and the opportunities for its prevention, and we have resources available to assist your effort, which will continue to be updated as World Pneumonia Day approaches. We also invite you to join our Facebook page for regular updates on the campaign and ways to get involved.

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5. Wear Blue on November 12! Concerned citizens around the world are wearing blue on World Pneumonia Day--from buttons to blue jeans to shirts to ribbons--to show their support for the fight against pneumonia. Don't be shy in asking others to join you in helping to finally raise the visibility of this silent killer.


We can all play an important role in supporting World Pneumonia Day and helping to save the lives of children all around the world.

 

Follow Dr. Orin Levine on Twitter: www.twitter.com/orinlevine

In New York this week, the UN General Assembly meets to check its progress on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - the compact that Bono called "the most visionary deal that most people have never he...
In New York this week, the UN General Assembly meets to check its progress on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - the compact that Bono called "the most visionary deal that most people have never he...
 
 
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Dr. Orin Levine
04:05 PM on 09/21/2010
A health environment is indeed an important part of preventing and controlling pneumonia. Today, there was a promising announcement from the US government, the UN Foundation and others around improving healthy environments for children in developing countries by working to reduce indoor air pollution. It is also important to acknowledge that even with healthy environments infections still occur. For these, clinical trials and research have shown that vaccines and improved nutrition can help to prevent the most serious ones and antibiotics and oxygen therapy can help children recover from these illnesses without dying. World Pneumonia Day emphasizes this holistic approach to control and prevention of pneumonia. I encourage you to get involved if you are interested in this subject.
08:16 AM on 09/21/2010
he forgot to never go outside with wet hair, my grandma always said "you'll catch your death of a cold"
05:43 PM on 09/20/2010
i'm glad huffpost readers know this. Pneumonia is a vitamin C deficiency a antioxident deficiency a green dieficiancy oops lack of green lack of a sustainable habitat and lack of conscious local and non-local government

the solution is lack of lack

Dr levine is part of the establishment hegemony that is trapped in an echo chamber it needs to let the light in form alternative

access to drugs is another horror show of the theology THEOLOGY of MDG missionary project ; the need is real , problems need to be solved but are we God's chosen few who can help them , starting of course with local autonomy

intervention in economy is more likely to result in better society than intervention in persons lives in terms of dumping drugs on them rather than upgrading local master herbalists ethnobotanists and such

rather than beat the drum of vitamin C foundation { e.g. Dr Klenner cured pneumonia , small pox, hepatitus meningitus and even polio [ JAMA sept 3 1949 ] with HIGH dose C intravenous

C is cheap and someone [ well mind association of washington] speaking before the FDA years ago claimed that C also lowers stress in mental illness

but raising it to a higher level : just one thing not a drug or vacccine can solve the problem of epidemics by itself : Maharishi Vedic Medicine

i've mentioned this to RED also and the same stone wall that needs to fall like the berlin wall
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cadawa
03:32 PM on 09/20/2010
Human health is dependent upon a healthy environment and having the resources to provide adequate food, clean water and shelter. Way too many of the world's people have none of these things. Fix these problems and you have licked dozens upon dozens of problems.
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Vivian Alicia Evans
04:28 PM on 09/21/2010
That is as simple as it gets. If only every child was born with a roof over their head, enough food to fill their belly everyday and clean water what a happier world we would live in. I think it would shock most people to know how many Americans and Canadian (I'm Canadian) children do not have at least one of these basics.