World Pneumonia Dayis observed annually on12thNovemberto raise awareness about pneumonia, a preventable and treatable respiratory infection that still claims millions of lives worldwide.
Theme:
2025 Theme:“Child Survival”
Focus:The theme highlights pneumonia as a major child killer and calls for better nutrition, clean air, vaccination, and timely medical care to prevent deaths.
Background:
First observance:The first World Pneumonia Day was observed on12 November 2009, organized by the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia
Supporter:Over the years, global bodies like the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund(UNICEF) and World Health Organization(WHO), have supported the observance and amplified the global call to action against pneumonia.
What is Pneumonia?
Lung Infection:Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It causes inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs making it difficult to breathe and get oxygen into the bloodstream.
Symptoms:Cough with mucus or pus, fever, chills, and sharp chest pain when breathing or coughing.
Risk Factors:Malnutrition, indoor air pollution, smoking, Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) /immunosuppression, and inadequate vaccination.
Global Burden:According to the Global Burden of Disease (2023), pneumonia caused 2.5 million deaths, including 610,000 children under five.
- According to WHO, pneumonia causes 14 lakh deaths annually among children under five,about 18% of all child deaths worldwide.
- UNICEF reports that a child dies of pneumonia every 39 seconds.
- Adults over 50 face rising risks, with 16 lakh deaths linked to air pollution and smoking.
Global Efforts to End Pneumonia Deaths:
Every Breath Counts Coalition:It is the world’s first Public-Private Partnership(PPP), works with national governments to eliminate pneumonia deaths by 2030.
GAPPD:In 2013, WHO and UNICEF launched the Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) to reduce child pneumonia mortality to below three deaths per 1,000 live births in every country by 2025.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
