World Pneumonia Day 12 November 2024 - Theme, History and Importance
World Pneumonia Day is a global event observed every year on 12 November to spread awareness and educate people to combat Pneumonia disease, which is the world’s biggest infectious killer of adults and children, responsible for the majority of death of children below five years around the world. The day is also focused on creating ample opportunity and encourage for the global action mainly in the low and middle income countries to fight the toll due to pneumonia and other respiratory infection.
Pneumonia is an inflammatory respiratory disorder caused due to bacteria, viruses or fungal infections which impair the air sacs of the lungs, called "Alveoli". It results in the accumulation of fluid or pus in the air sacs, making breathing difficult. It is a contagious disease and could be fatal for the person with weaker immunity, especially in the children's and elderly people.
Importance of World Pneumonia Day (WPD)
Pneumonia is a preventable and treatable infectious disease. Despite the availability of treatment, the death toll due to Pneumonia and other respiratory infectious disease has risen drastically in past years. In 2019, 25 lakhs people lost their lives, and around seven lakhs children below five years died due to the Pneumonia across the world.
Also, the Unprecedented COVID outbreak has added the toll to 6 lakhs death due to respiratory infectious disease in 2021, making it one of the biggest respiratory crisis putting lakhs of people at risk of infection and death.
To fight the risk of respiratory infection and to curb the toll due to lack of awareness about respiratory infection and bring the organization on a single platform to create the opportunity to make this preventable infectious disease accessible to all sections of society. World Pneumonia Day plays a crucial role as the days encourage various public and private organizations to contribute and organize campaigns at their levels to impart preventive measures and provide facility and making sure no one is deprived of the vaccinations.
World Pneumonia Day 2024 Theme
This year, 2024, the World Pneumonia Day theme is "Every Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in Its Track”. The theme highlights the significance of every breath, and underscores the urgency of stopping pneumonia through early detection, treatment, and prevention.
Year by year theme of World Pneumonia Day
- World Pneumonia day 2023: Championing the fight to stop pneumonia
- World Pneumonia day 2022: Pneumonia Affects Everyone
- World Pneumonia day 2021: Stop Pneumonia/Every Breath Counts
- World Pneumonia day 2020: Let's increase access to medical oxygen
History of World Pneumonia Day (WPD)
World Pneumonia Day was first observed on 12 November 2009, under the "Stop Pneumonia" initiatives by Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia, a coalition of various institutions all together to fight the child mortality due to the respiratory infection. Stop Pneumonia got immense support across the globe, various Govt institutions and private organization advocated and implemented the better policies and campaigns to educate people and provide better facilities especially in the low and middle income countries where children suffers with malnutrition and air infections.
Every Breath Counts Coalition is one of first such public-private partnership Coalition came into existence in 2017 with an intention to support the low- and middle-income countries to combat the toll due to Pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Global Coalition of UN agencies like WHO, UNICEF, international NGOs and various institutions are helping the government of various underdeveloped countries with awareness campaigns, healthcare support and with better healthcare policies to reduce the gap in pneumonia prevention, diagnosis and treatment, which could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
Every Breath Counts Coalition was formed to support the governments on Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD), with an aim to reduce Pneumonia child mortality and combat the cause of respiratory infection in the poor countries.
Facts about Pneumonia & World Pneumonia Day (WPD)
- Pneumonia is a contagious disease, that can spread through coughing and sneezing, and through fluids such as blood during childbirth and infectious agent could be Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi.
- Streptococcus Pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in children
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) is the second most common cause of bacterial pneumonia
- Respiratory syncytial virus is the most common cause of viral pneumonia
- According to WHO 14 Lakh children under the age of five years die every year because of Pneumonia, accounting for 18% of all deaths of children under five years old worldwide.
- According to UNICEF, every 39 sec a child dies of Pneumonia
- The risk of affecting with pneumococcal pneumonia for a 65-year-old with COPD is 7.7 times higher than a healthy one, and those with asthma are at 5.9 times greater risk.
- It is estimated that 16 Lakh pneumonia deaths among adults aged over 50 are attributable to air pollution and smoking.
- Every Breath Counts Coalition is the world’s first public-private partnership to support national governments to end pneumonia deaths by 2030.
- In 2013, WHO & UNICEF launched an
Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea with an aim to reduce Pneumonia child mortality to less than three child pneumonia deaths per 1000 live births in every country by 2025.
Prevention of Pneumonia
Prevention is a crucial aspect in reducing the incidence and severity of pneumonia, a common yet potentially serious respiratory infection. By adopting preventive measures, individuals can significantly lower their risk of infection, protect vulnerable populations, and contribute to overall public health. Some of the preventive measures are:
- Vaccination: Get vaccinated with pneumococcal and flu vaccines to prevent bacterial and viral pneumonia.
- Good Hygiene: Wash hands regularly with soap and water to reduce infection risk.
- Avoid Smoking: Smoking damages lung defense system, increasing the risk of pneumonia.
- Healthy Diet and Exercise: Maintain a balanced diet and regular physical activity to boost the immune system.
- Avoid Sick Contacts: Limit exposure to people with respiratory infections.
- Manage Chronic Conditions: Keep conditions like asthma, COPD, or diabetes under control, as they increase pneumonia risk.
- Practice Respiratory Etiquette: Cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing to prevent spreading infections.
- Adequate Sleep: Ensure sufficient rest to support immune health.
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