As part of its work with the coalition, the agency is developing a new digital campaign to drive awareness of childhood pneumonia, the biggest infectious disease killer of children globally, claiming over 800,000 lives every year.
Pneumonia kills more children than HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea and malaria combined but remains a neglected disease both nationally and globally.
MHP will deliver an innovative digital programme to highlight the devastating impact of the disease on children’s lives.
Working with digital partners Groovy Gecko, it will create a 24-hour Twitter livestream from the coalition’s Twitter account throughout World Pneumonia Day today (Tuesday, 12 November).
The broadcast will demonstrate the shocking mortality statistics from childhood pneumonia around the world with an educational video playing alongside a real-time counter that will increase by one every 39 seconds; the frequency at which children globally are dying from the disease.
MHP will also support the coalition in the run-up to the launch of the first global forum dedicated to childhood pneumonia.
The Fighting For Breath Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia, which will take place in Barcelona from 29-31 January next year, is a major opportunity to ensure that pneumonia is at the forefront of national and global health agendas.
The Every Breath Counts Coalition of UN agencies, businesses, donors and NGOs has committed to supporting governments in 10 countries with some of the largest populations of children at greatest risk of death from pneumonia.
The 40 members provide support to close the critical gaps in pneumonia prevention, diagnosis and treatment, which could save hundreds of thousands of child pneumonia deaths each year.
The disease can be prevented by simple interventions such as vaccinations, antibiotics and medical oxygen, where necessary.
Arabella Moore, Director at MHP Health, said: “Our support for the coalition and its ambitious goal to reduce childhood pneumonia deaths is an important step in MHP’s commitment to amplify our role in global health policy and advocacy, and to build new and strategic partnerships with the non-for-profit sector to help address the biggest challenges in health worldwide.
“Our expertise in government relations, campaigning, and integrated communications, particularly in this networked age, is able to provide new and creative strategies that amplify the voices of those affected by – and fighting against – leading causes of mortality and morbidity. We are hugely committed to the sector and its partners and are excited about what lies ahead in the lead up to critical milestones on the global health agenda next year and beyond.”
Androulla Kyrillou, Advocacy and Communication Lead at Every Breath Counts Coalition, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with MHP to bring to life a social media strategy that highlights the importance of World Pneumonia Day. This milestone is an opportunity to launch a social media campaign that raises awareness of pneumonia and the devastating impact that this has on children and their families across the world.”