DIARRHEA AND

PNEUMONIA

A boy has the oxygen levels tested using a pulse oximeter on his finger.
Diarrhea and
Pneumonia
The Issue
Pneumonia and diarrhea are the two largest killers of children under five globally, responsible for nearly one and a half million deaths each year. Although simple and effective solutions exist to treat these illnesses, too many children in resource-limited countries do not have access to them. Vaccinations can reduce diarrhea-related deaths by up to half, while treatment with zinc and oral rehydration salts (ORS) can save the lives of 93 percent of children. For pneumonia, timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment is critical. If children with pneumonia are left untreated, even mild cases can become deadly.
CHAI's Approach
In countries that account for almost 40 percent of all deaths from diarrhea and pneumonia worldwide, CHAI works with governments to reduce market barriers and improve access to and usage of medications and equipment that will save lives. Diarrhea is the second largest killer of children, and even if children survive, repeated episodes can have serious long-term impacts on their growth and make them vulnerable to other illnesses. When CHAI began our program in 2012, only one-third of children that needed lifesaving ORS treatment received it. Zinc usage rates were even worse. Working with our partners in Nigeria, India, Uganda, and Kenya, we have increased the percentage of children with diarrhea receiving zinc/ORS from less than one percent to 24 percent. Our strategy is holistic – addressing both the supply and demand barriers while ensuring children receive the right treatment wherever they seek care.
Pneumonia is the largest single killer of children worldwide. Our program, launched in 2016, builds on the success of our diarrhea work. We are partnering with five countries— Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, India, and Kenya— to ensure that every child seeking treatment for respiratory illness is accurately diagnosed and quickly treated. We work with suppliers globally and locally to increase access to optimal tools for diagnosis such as pulse oximetry, as well as treatment, including Amoxicillin dispersible tablets to treat non-severe cases and oxygen therapy and antibiotics to treat severe pneumonia.

Learn more about our work to make oxygen therapy more accessible.
Results
24%
average combined zinc/ORS usage across our partner countries, up from 1%
42%
reduction in average cost of zinc/ORS treatment
Spotlight

ORS and zinc transform diarrhea treatment in Kenya

Changing how diarrhea is treated in India to save children’s lives

CHAI works with Nigeria to #StopPneumonia in its tracks

Our Work
A toddler lies on a blue and red blanket with his eyes closed. He is receiving oxygen.

November 12, 2021

Broken oxygen equipment cost children’s lives at hospitals in Kano, Nigeria. We developed a fix. 

In a corner of the emergency pediatric unit a four-year-old boy with pneumonia was struggling to breathe despite using an oxygen concentrator. The hospital technician was called to check on the machine and discovered it was broken—the concentrator had been pumping ambient air.  

Read More
A boy has the oxygen levels tested using a pulse oximeter on his finger.

November 8, 2021

Investing in oxygen before the pandemic gave Ethiopia a head start in its COVID-19 response 

In Ethiopia, pneumonia accounts for 18 percent of all child deaths. Hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen, is a common and deadly complication of pneumonia. Medical oxygen is the only treatment. 

Read More

February 11, 2021

"Suffering will continue unless we tackle this crisis": COVID-19 exposes long-standing medical oxygen gap

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a long-neglected public health crisis: people dying due to lack of oxygen.

Read More
Three delivery room nurses stand arm in arm outside a clinic. The woman in the middle wears a white uniform and the women on either side of her wear pink. All are smiling.

December 20, 2020

Closing the gap: A year of progress amidst the global pandemic

Revisit our most popular blog posts from 2020, as we highlight the challenges and successes of our work over the last year.

Read More
A toddler lies on a blue and red blanket with his eyes closed. He is receiving oxygen.

November 12, 2021

Broken oxygen equipment cost children’s lives at hospitals in Kano, Nigeria. We developed a fix. 

In a corner of the emergency pediatric unit a four-year-old boy with pneumonia was struggling to breathe despite using an oxygen concentrator. The hospital technician was called to check on the machine and discovered it was broken—the concentrator had been pumping ambient air.  

Read More
A boy has the oxygen levels tested using a pulse oximeter on his finger.

November 8, 2021

Investing in oxygen before the pandemic gave Ethiopia a head start in its COVID-19 response 

In Ethiopia, pneumonia accounts for 18 percent of all child deaths. Hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen, is a common and deadly complication of pneumonia. Medical oxygen is the only treatment. 

Read More

February 11, 2021

"Suffering will continue unless we tackle this crisis": COVID-19 exposes long-standing medical oxygen gap

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a long-neglected public health crisis: people dying due to lack of oxygen.

Read More
Three delivery room nurses stand arm in arm outside a clinic. The woman in the middle wears a white uniform and the women on either side of her wear pink. All are smiling.

December 20, 2020

Closing the gap: A year of progress amidst the global pandemic

Revisit our most popular blog posts from 2020, as we highlight the challenges and successes of our work over the last year.

Read More

Join Our Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions

Join Our Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions