The U. N. said this week that pneumonia kills more young children than any other disease, but an investment of $39 billion, or just $12.9 per child, could save 5.3 million lives in developing countries by 2015.

The World Health Organization and U. N. Children's Fund said that the disease which affects the lungs kills 1.8 million children under the age of five each year, but despite this rate of fatalities, very few resources are put into tackling it.

A joint appeal to fund a six-year plan for pneumonia prevention and treatment in 68 developing countries, mostly in Africa and Asia and also parts of Central and South America, wherever it exists.

Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization, said, "We know the strategy will work, and if it is applied in every high-burden country, we will be able to prevent millions of deaths."

The agencies invited strategies to urge mothers to breast feed babies exclusively for the first six months, increase use of vaccines and encourage proper treatment.

They also require that policymakers to act immediately to implement the plan. It was reported that the children in wealthy countries are routinely vaccinated against infections that cause pneumonia, but in poorer countries, vaccination is not as widespread.

The main reason for pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria, which are particularly dangerous for the elderly, the very young, people with weak immune systems and those who have basic medical conditions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine can protect against 23 types of pneumonoccal bacteria at this point of time.