World Pneumonia Day, observed annually on November 12th, was established to raise awareness about pneumonia, the world's leading infectious killer of children under the age of five. Despite its preventability and treatability, pneumonia continues to claim the lives of millions of children in low and middle-income countries, and also significantly affects elderly populations and those with compromised immune systems.
The day aims to highlight the severity of pneumonia, advocate for global action to protect against, treat, and prevent the disease, and generate action to combat pneumonia. This includes promoting interventions to protect against pneumonia such as immunization, adequate nutrition, and reducing indoor air pollution; increasing access to and use of antibiotics and oxygen therapy; and raising funds to fight the disease.
World Pneumonia Day brings together NGOs, academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector to fight against pneumonia. Activities on this day often include educational campaigns, lobbying efforts to policymakers for increased support and funding for pneumonia prevention and treatment programs, and community outreach initiatives to inform the public about ways to protect against the disease.
Launched in 2009 by the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia, World Pneumonia Day seeks to bring attention to pneumonia as a public health issue and to encourage more organizations and individuals to take action in the fight against the disease.