Championing the fight against pneumonia

Pneumonia is the single biggest infectious killer of children, claiming over 800,000 lives annually. Yet pneumonia remains a neglected disease. And the numbers are coming down far too slowly to achieve the 2030 ambition of ending preventable child deaths.

This year on the 10^th anniversary of World Pneumonia Day – 12 November 2019 – we are championing the fight against pneumonia.

We know that urgent and decisive action could save many lives through immunisation, or early and accurate diagnosis followed by treatment with antibiotics, or referral for oxygen treatment. We need to extend the reach, quality and equity of health systems so that the children facing the greatest risks receive the care they need.

This World Pneumonia Day, we are calling for concrete action from governments and other stakeholders in the lead-up to the Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia in January 2020.