Developing world specialists discuss the burden of pneumococcal disease with the APPG (05 Jun 2008)

On Thursday the 5th of June 2008, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) met with developing world doctors at the House of Commons to discuss the burden of pneumococcal disease and the potential impact of the Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

Prof Tumani Corrah (MRC, The Gambia), Prof Lulu Bravo (University of Philippines), Prof David Goldblatt (UCL Institute of Child Health), Prof Samir Saha (Dhaka Shishu Children Hospital, Bangladesh) and Prof Fred Were (Kenya Paediatric Association) briefed the Group on the damage that pneumococcal disease can do to families in the developing world.

The specialists spoke to the Group Members as part of an evidence session towards an APPG report looking into the burden of pneumococcal disease and the potential impact of the AMC.

In the evidence session, the specialists stressed that up to 1 million children under 5 die needlessly each year from pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis and many more are left disabled.

They went further to explain the true tragedy is that pneumococcal disease is preventable through immunisation.

The specialists praised the British Government for taking a leading role in setting up the pilot AMC for pneumococcal disease, which aims to speed up the development of life saving pneumococcal vaccines for the developing world.

Chair of the APPG, Dr Des Turner MP said it was important for the Group to hear first hand evidence from specialists of such a high quality.

"It's rare to have the knowledge and experience of these individuals in the one room and the APPG is very grateful they were able to come all this way to speak to us.

"They were able to emphasise the damaging effects of pneumococcal disease in the developing world.

"Hopefully, innovative funding mechanisms such as the AMC will successfully help fight the scourge of pneumococcal and help fight the circle of poverty in the developing world."

The APPG report will be launched later this year.