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.
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
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
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.
09 December, 2022
Antimicrobial resistance and pneumonia
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?
18 November, 2022
2nd Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia
The 2nd Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia built on the momentum for action generated by the first Forum in 2020, enabling countries to rapidly reduce child pneumonia deaths and accelerate achievement of the child survival SDG.
13 November, 2022
Pulse oximeters that work for everyone
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.
10 October, 2022
