World Pneumonia Day is observed annually on 12th November. On this day, many organisations come together to launch and successfully carry out campaigns to spread awareness to prevent, diagnose and treat pneumonia. On 12th of November, every year the whole world stands together to fight and protect individuals from pneumonia infection.
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Origin
The first World Pneumonia Day was held on 2nd November, 2009. When more than 100 organisations joined hands together and became “Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia” to spread awareness and fight against this respiratory infection. The organizations call for action by people to stand firm in this battle with Pneumonia.
From 2010 onwards, World Pneumonia Day falls on 12th November.
Initiatives
On 12th November, the global health community come together for the initiative that is named as the “Stop Pneumonia Initiative”. To spread awareness, fight and protect against pneumonia. To save the lives and future of children by making people aware and preventing the risks of pneumonia. This initiative was co-led by the International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC), the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Another initiative named “Every Breath Counts Coalition” took charge to prevent the respiratory infection and fight the death. This coalition is a public-private partnership to support nations to prevent and end the pneumonia from consuming children’s lives by 2030.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection in which either or both of the lungs swell due to fluid or pus filling up. This infection can be life threatening. Pneumonia is the leading cause of deaths due to respiratory infection especially of children under 5 years of age and adults over 75. In 2019, this infection claimed the lives of 2.5 million individuals among which 672,000 were children. However, the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) shows an alarming increase in this tally with increasing risks of the infection.
Some of the symptoms of Pneumonia include fever, cough with pus, chills and difficulty in breathing. However, Pneumonia is easily preventable and treatable. It can be prevented by vaccine or can be treated by some antibiotics.
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