Leading agencies have warned that 49,000 children in Malawi could die of Pneumonia in a decade if no efforts are set to fight the disease.

This is what is contained in the statement released by the United Nations Children Fund UNICEF ahead of a first ever global forum on child Pneumonia in Barcelona Spain from 29 to 31 January.

At least 16 ministers of health from different countries including Malawi were in attendance.

In Malawi Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death among children under the age of five.

Statistics show that, Pneumonia claimed the lives of 800,000 children under the age of five in 2018.

The statement quotes UNICEF Malawi representative Rudolf Schwenk emphasizing on the need to have strong commitment and increased investments to fight against the disease.

Ministry of health spokesperson Joshua Malango said in the statement that government is aware of the high burden of Acute Respiratory infections such as Pneumonia and has prioritized Acute Respiratory Infections such as pneumonia in its efforts to reduce child mortality and morbidity.

Shortage of health workers at community level, inadequate diagnostic equipment, delays in getting children to the clinic are some of the challenges Malawi is facing in managing pneumonia.

The global forum on childhood pneumonia has been organized by UNICEF and eight other leading health organizations including save the children, IS global, every breath counts and Vaccine Alliance among others.