World Pneumonia Day 2019
This year on the 10th anniversary of World Pneumonia Day – 12 November 2019 – we are celebrating a decade of action in championing the fight against pneumonia.
In 2009, a diverse group of committed doctors, advocates, academics, UN officials, and business people came together to change the way the world responded to pneumonia, the “forgotten killer of children.” When they launched the first World Pneumonia Day in November, pneumonia was killing 1.2 million children each year.
In the decade since, child pneumonia deaths have fallen from 1.1 million to 670,000 (39%) – a remarkable achievement but not enough to achieve global health goals. We know that urgent and decisive action to increase vaccination, improve early and accurate diagnosis and effective treatment could save many more children. We need to extend the reach, improve the quality, and deepen the equity of health systems so that the children facing the greatest risks receive the care they need.
Read more to find out what has changed in the last decade – the progress that has been made – and the still-daunting challenge ahead.
Read more about World Pneumonia Day 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
RESOURCES
Reports
- Fighting for Breath: A Call to Action to Stop Children Dying of Pneumonia, Save the Children, English,French, Spanish
- Pneumonia and Diarrhea Progress Report Card 2019, International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC)
Media Releases
Country briefings
More detailed information about the countries with the largest numbers of child pneumonia deaths: India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (French), Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan
Articles
Open Letter to The Global Fund Board: Access to medical oxygen
Dear Global Fund Board, The Global Fund must continue its vital work helping eligible countries close the massive gaps in access to medical oxygen that are stymying efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and prepare for the next pandemic. Oxygen is an essential...
19 November, 2024
Medical oxygen and the SDGs
“Apart from oxygen, name one other essential medicine that is a topline treatment for all but one of the conditions targeted by the health SDGs?” This was the focus of the second of three High Stakes Conversations on the role of medical oxygen and global...
09 July, 2024
What do the new Global Burden of Disease estimates tell us about childhood pneumonia?
For the first time since global child mortality statistics have been collected, the end of child pneumonia deaths is in sight. New estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) show that the number of children dying from pneumonia dropped...
21 May, 2024
Medical oxygen and respiratory pandemics
This was the focus of the first of three High Stakes Conversations on the role of medical oxygen and respiratory therapies hosted by Every Breath Counts on 30 April 2024. The event, Respiratory Pandemics and Access to Medical Oxygen, brought together four leading experts on...
12 May, 2024
The promise of reduced dose pneumococcal vaccination for children
Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death in children under five and, as a result, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or PCV, is one of the most lifesaving vaccines. However, just six in every ten children are protected with PCV well below the global target...
17 March, 2024
A2O2 Resource Library
The A2O2 Resource Library is a platform for all things oxygen - covering every aspect of the oxygen ecosystem from planning to equipment to patient care.
10 May, 2023
