World Pneumonia Day is an annual event celebrated on November 12 with the motto of eradicating pneumonia. As many as 100 organisations joined the campaign representing the necessity to eradicate pneumonia through the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia. The main objective behind celebrating this day is to Stop Pneumonia, Every Breathe Counts, and Every Action Matters. In this blog, you will read all about World Pneumonia Day, its history, its theme, and its significance!
Table of Contents
When do we Celebrate World Pneumonia Day?
Owing to the severity of this disease, 12 November is celebrated as World Pneumonia Day. According to the statistics, half of the population affected by pneumonia i.e. 1.6 million people belong to the higher age group affected due to pollution.
Pneumonia is a severe lung infection caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Its causative agent is Streptococcus pneumonia. In this disease, the air sacs present in the lungs get filled with water and pus, causing difficulty in breathing. It is a life-threatening disease affecting children and adults.
As per the demographics, the population belonging to lower-middle-income countries such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America along with 11 countries are highly affected by Pneumonia.
World Pneumonia Day History
- The World Pneumonia Day was initiated by Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia (GCAP) on 12 November 2009.
- That was the first time, the world celebrated pneumonia day.
- On this special day, almost 100 organisations joined to support the mission of reducing child deaths due to pneumonia as well as other preventable diseases.
- Since the launch of Pneumonia Day, it has been celebrated to raise awareness among society about the severity of the disease and the preventive measures and treatments available for it.
Here are some important years of development and evolution of World Pneumonia Day:
Year | Achievement |
2009 | GCAP launches World Pneumonia Day on 12 November. |
2010 | WHO and UNICEF presented the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia (GAPP) |
2011 | GCAP launched the “Every Breath Counts” campaign. |
2017 | GCAP launched the “Every Child, Every Breath” campaign |
NOTE: In 2021, the death rate increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Pneumonia Day Theme 2024
The official theme for World Pneumonia Day in 2024 is “Every Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in Its Track.” Through this theme, the day raises awareness about the urgent need to putting an end to the spread of pneumonia. By raising awareness and promoting preventative measures, world governments and authorities can bring global attention to fighting this preventable and treatable illness, ensuring every breath counts for a healthier future.
Also Read: World Hypertension Day
Significance of World Pneumonia Day
This day holds a major significance for many reasons such as:
- It highlights the severity of pneumonia as a leading cause of death among children.
- Promotes Prevention: Encourages the use of vaccines, better hygiene practices, and early detection to prevent the disease.
- It encourages governments to adopt better treatment and care facilities for patients with pneumonia.
Read More Interesting Blogs
National Journalism Day | World Rabies Day |
Guinness World Record Day | World Stroke Day |
Infant Protection Day | National Epilepsy Day |
International Translation Day | World Diabetes Day |
FAQs
World Pneumonia Day is celebrated on 12 November every year to spread awareness among society to stop pneumonia because every breath counts and every action matters. This day is celebrated to bring the communities together that are involved in public health, climate, and air quality.
This year, 2024, the World Pneumonia Day theme is “Every Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in Its Track”.
The first Pneumonia Day was observed on 12 November 2009. It was initiated with the Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia (GCAP) to raise awareness against a serious illness pneumonia, which was the leading cause of death in children below 5 years.
Hope you like reading about World Pneumonia Day. For more information on such interesting topics, visit our Important Days website and follow Leverage Edu.