Diarrhea and Pneumonia Treatment Initiative

This project contributes to reducing the number of children dying from diarrhea and pneumonia, by increasing the use of effective treatments for these childhood illnesses. The project seeks to increase demand for oral rehydration salts, zinc and antibiotics, by raising awareness among caregivers and providers on the most effective treatments for diarrhea and pneumonia. UNICEF is also working with the public and private sector in countries with high incidences of these diseases to ensure that there is a reliable supply of effective treatments for these childhood illnesses. Project activities include: (i) building community awareness on recognizing the symptoms of, and effectively using oral rehydration salts, zinc and antibiotics to treat diarrhea and pneumonia; (ii) ensuring that health workers have the necessary training and supplies to effectively diagnose and treat these childhood illnesses; (iii) providing training to national governments to strengthen purchasing, storage, and distribution systems for essential medicines; and (iv) positioning emergency supplies of oral rehydration salts, zinc, and antibiotics in high-risk areas to prevent shortages.