World Pneumonia Day 2022

12 November - the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and conflict is fuelling a pneumonia crisis across the life course, placing millions more at risk of infection and death.

Learn more

The COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 is causing a massive burden of respiratory infections around the world.

Learn more

Lancet Global Health Oxygen Commission

Medical oxygen is a critical treatment for patients with a range of medical conditions – from newborns in respiratory distress, to children with pneumonia, to adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and many more. It is also essential for surgery.

Learn more

/ 3 / 3

Championing the fight to stop pneumonia

Pneumonia is the world’s biggest infectious killer – claiming 2.5 million lives, including 672,000 children under five, in 2019 alone.

That’s one person dying every 13 seconds. Yet pneumonia remains a neglected disease – a “global cause without champions”.

COVID-19 will add 3.6 million to the death toll in 2021, bringing the total number of respiratory infection deaths to more than 6 million. No other infection causes this burden of death.

Unless we take action now to reduce pneumonia deaths, and the risk of further respiratory infection pandemics, millions more adults and children will die from pneumonia over the next decade.

The Every Breath Counts Coalition

The Every Breath Counts Coalition is the world’s first public-private partnership supporting low- and middle-income countries to reduce pneumonia deaths, including from COVID-19.

The global coalition of UN agencies, businesses, donors, academic institutions and NGOs have committed to supporting governments in countries with some of the highest burden of pneumonia. The members provide support to close the critical gaps in pneumonia prevention, diagnosis and treatment, which could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day, marked every year on 12 November, was established by the Stop Pneumonia Initiative in 2009 to raise awareness about the toll of pneumonia – a leading killer of children around the world – and to advocate for global action to protect against, help prevent and effectively treat this deadly illness.

News & updates

New global data, in-country success stories, op-eds from experts. You can find it all here.

Latest posts

World Pneumonia Day – Grant Winner Highlights
From Bangladesh to Zimbabwe 11 civil society organizations took on the local fight against the leading infectious killer during a 2022 World Pneumonia Day Week of Action.
Androulla Kyrillou
23 February, 2023
You paid WHAT?
For the more than 400 million adults and children who get sick with pneumonia each year, the costs of treatment can be catastrophic - as individuals and families are forced to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare. Every Breath Counts is launching a new campaign to document these crippling costs.
Androulla Kyrillou
09 December, 2022
Statement: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022
How do we reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics for the treatment of pneumonia and close any remaining access gaps for pneumonia patients, especially children, who are missing out?
Androulla Kyrillou
18 November, 2022
Announcing the 2nd Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia
The 2nd Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia will build on the momentum for action generated by the 1st Forum in 2020, and pivot political attention from COVID-19 to government action needed to reduce child pneumonia deaths.
Androulla Kyrillou
13 November, 2022
Barun’s story
Access to oxygen can be a matter of life or death. Read Barun's story - he has experienced the direct impact of oxygen access.
Androulla Kyrillou
06 November, 2022
Pulse oximeters that work on ALL skin tones
There is growing evidence that pulse oximeters do not work effectively on darker skin tones. This is unacceptable. Every Breath Counts has launched a petition to change this.
Androulla Kyrillou
10 October, 2022