Nepal cut child pneumonia deaths sharply, and the methods that worked are still saving lives

mind & bodyOur World in Dataearly 1980s · Nepal

Nepal cut child pneumonia deaths sharply, and the methods that worked are still saving lives

the gist

In the early 1980s Nepal had some of the world's highest childhood pneumonia death rates, with more than 1,400 deaths per 100,000 children under five, roughly 39,000 children a year, more than from any other cause. Pneumonia is caused mostly by bacteria and viruses that fill the lungs with fluid, and it is treatable with cheap antibiotics, oxygen and vaccines. Nepal's decline came from wider vaccination, better access to antibiotics through community health workers, and improved nutrition and home care. Deaths have fallen steeply since, though pneumonia remains a leading killer of young children in poorer countries.

so what

Pneumonia is one of the clearest examples of a disease that is largely preventable and treatable with cheap tools, so it shows how public health programs can change outcomes fast. Nepal's story is a template for other low-income countries still facing high child mortality from common infections.

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background

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity of the condition is variable.

Pneumonia is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria, and less commonly by other microorganisms. Identifying the responsible pathogen can be difficult. Diagnosis is often based on symptoms and physical examination. Chest X-rays, blood tests, and culture of the sputum may help confirm the diagnosis. The disease may be classified by where it was acquired, such as community- or hospital-acquired or healthcare-associated pneumonia.

Risk factors for pneumonia include cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sickle cell disease, asthma, diabetes, heart failure, a history of smoking, a poor ability to cough (such as following a stroke), and immunodeficiency.

From Wikipedia: Pneumonia (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗ · text CC BY-SA 4.0

see

Christaras A, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

New_Pneumonia_cartoon.jpg: Původně soubor načetl InvictaHOG…, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yale Rosen from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Our World in Data · CC BY 4.0

Image: Our World in Data

source: Our World in Data ↗

politics

Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over whether to resume military action against Iran

the gist

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

so what

The United States and Israel have been closely aligned on Iran's nuclear programme and regional threats, so open disagreement between their leaders over military strategy is unusual and closely watched. Whether to resume strikes is a decision with consequences for shipping, oil markets and the wider Middle East.

fun fact

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel for more years in total than any other person.

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Data: GDELT Project

Illustrative photo · Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provis…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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supplementary video · Epimetheus on YouTube ↗

world cultures & travelWikivoyageclassic9th–15th century · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city on Earth, covering about 3,000 square kilometres

the gist

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.

how it works

The Khmer kings built enormous rectangular reservoirs that caught monsoon rain during the wet season. Earthen dykes and canals moved that water into rice paddies, so farmers could grow crops across much of the year. The surplus food supported craftsmen, builders and the workforce that raised the temples.

so what

Angkor shows how a society without industrial machinery could build a city on a scale that rivals modern metropolises, using engineering and water management instead. Some historians link its decline to drought, flooding and shifts in its water systems, which makes it a long-running case study in how cities depend on managing water. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Southeast Asia.

fun fact

The outline of Angkor Wat appears on the national flag of Cambodia.