November 12 – World Pneumonia Day

Pneumonia is a disease which impairs the air sacs of the lungs, called “alveoli”, resulting in the accumulation of fluid or pus in the air sacs, making breathing difficult.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), every 39 sec a child dies of pneumonia. Pneumonia is the world’s biggest infectious killer of children and adults.

Whereas it is a preventable and treatable infectious disease, it kills more children than the combined mortality rate caused by AIDS, measles, and malaria.

The theme for this year is “Championing the fight to stop pneumonia” is a clear clarion call for action through advocacy and promoting early detection of the disease through timely diagnosis.