Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide; in 2019, it killed 740,180 children under five years of age, accounting for 14% of all deaths in this age group.
World Pneumonia Day is observed annually on 12 November to raise awareness of pneumonia and promote actions to prevent and treat it. Most pneumonia deaths are preventable. Pneumonia can be prevented through exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, adequate nutrition, vaccination against pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and measles, and reduction of household air pollution. Caregivers are encouraged to seek care promptly when a child has a cough with fast or difficult breathing, while health workers and Village Health Teams are encouraged to identify and treat cases early.
Authors: Winfred Nakaweesi1*, Allan Amandu1, Robert Masamba Namisi2, Irene Ayaa1
Institutional affiliation: 1Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; 2Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program-Laboratory Leadership Program; Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
*Correspondence: Email: wnakaweesi@uniph.go.ug; Tel: +256774572807