India tops list of pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths

The report was released by the International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The report stated: "Although global progress has been made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and reducing child death, in 2015, around 5.9 million children are expected to die around the world before reaching their fifth birthday."

"Of these 5.9 million, pneumonia was responsible for 16 percent and diarrhoea was responsible for nine percent deaths, making them two of the leading killers of children worldwide. This report highlights the need for sustained efforts to decrease the global burden of the diseases, especially in the 15 highest burden countries," said the report.

"This year's Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Report demonstrates the need for sustainable progress as we move beyond 2015 toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This means increasing equitable access to vaccines, diagnostic tools, and medication to prevent unnecessary pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths," said Kate O'Brien, professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg school of Public Health.

O'Brien, who is also the executive director of IVAC, stated: "Vaccine introductions and scale ups, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life, increasing access to appropriate pneumonia treatment, and ensuring sustainability for the post-2015 agenda are all required to put an end to these preventable diseases."