Oxygen is an essential medicine: a call for international action.

摘要: Hypoxaemia is commonly associated with mortality in developing countries, yet feasible and cost-effective ways to address hypoxaemia receive little or no attention current global health strategies. Oxygen treatment has been used medicine for almost 100 years, but countries most seriously ill newborns, children adults do not have access oxygen the simple test that can detect hypoxaemia. Improving pulse oximetry demonstrated a reduction from childhood pneumonia by up 35% high-burden child settings. The cost-effectiveness of an systems strategy compares favourably other higher profile survival interventions, such as new vaccines. In addition its use treating acute respiratory illness, required optimal management many conditions children, essential safe surgery, anaesthesia obstetric care. concentrators provide consistent least expensive source facilities where power supplies are reliable. sustainable country settings if systematic approach involving nurses, doctors, technicians administrators adopted. entry point improving quality For these broad reasons, vital importance reducing deaths due lung disease 2010: Year Lung, deserves priority on agenda.