World Pneumonia Day is observed every year on November 12 to raise awareness and preventive measures about pneumonia. This respiratory illness primarily affects young children under the age of five and the most vulnerable elders.
Theme:
The theme of World Pneumonia Day 2024 is “Every Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in Its Track”.
- The theme highlights the importance of every breath and emphasizes the urgent need for timely detection, and treatment to control pneumonia.
Background:
i.The 1st World Pneumonia Day was observed on 12th November 2009 by the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia, which included UNICEF, WHO, and Save the Children
ii.The campaign aims to raise awareness about Pneumonia, the leading cause of child mortality worldwide, despite being both preventable and treatable.
What is Pneumonia?
i.Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
ii.It causes inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs making it difficult to breathe and get oxygen into the bloodstream.
iii.Symptoms include a cough with mucus or pus, fever, chills, and sharp chest pain when breathing or coughing.
iv.Children whose immune systems are immature (i.e. newborns) or weakened by undernourishment, or diseases like Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) – are more vulnerable to pneumonia.
Every Breath Counts:
The Every Breath Counts (EBC) Coalition is the world’s 1st public-private partnership (PPP) to support national governments in low and middle-income countries (LMIcs) to end pneumonia deaths by 2030.
