World Pneumonia Day 2024: Significance, History and Celebration

World Pneumonia Day 2024 is on 12^th of November 2024. This day was established in 2009 to “raise awareness about pneumonia, promote interventions to protect against, prevent and treat pneumonia and generate action to combat the disease”.

Pneumonia is a dangerous infection that affects the both children and adults. Although anyone can catch pneumonia but children who are 2 years old or younger and adults who are age 65 or older are more susceptible to risk. Take this World Pneumonia Day as an occasion to learn about the disease, its prevention, treatment and much more and spread word of awareness among others.

World Pneumonia Day 2024 Date

The date or observing World Pneumonia Day is as follows:

World Pneumonia Day Overview

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Significance of World Pneumonia Day

Pneumonia is one of the most easily treatable disease in global health and yet one child dies every 20 seconds from the infection. It is high time to join efforts in fight against the disease by making people more aware of pneumonia, its symptoms and treatment. World Pneumonia Day is a reminder that pneumonia can strike anywhere, anytime, and is a serious, potentially life-threatening infection that should not be taken lightly. It also provides an opportunity for organizations, advocates and individuals to come together and organize events to raise awareness. The World Pneumonia Day is an important day in November and it is celebrated all over the world.

Pneumonia, its symptoms & treatments

Pneumonia is an infection of lungs that is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that are transmitted from one person to another. There can be more than 30 causes of this infection and if not treated within time can be fatal. The infection leads to inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs, alveoli, and it gets filled with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe. The symptoms of pneumonia can include mild fever, dry cough lasting longer than a week, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain and reduced appetite. Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia.

Antibiotics, rest and lot of water intake can help in the treatment of pneumonia. there are vaccines available too that can treat this disease and is a simple treatment as well, except when there are complications like weak immunity or diabetes. Despite this, the number of deaths occurring due to pneumonia are in millions, gathering worldwide attention.

History of World Pneumonia Day Observation

Pneumonia is one of the world’s leading killer of children under the age of five and concern for this infection was increasing day by day. The Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia is credited with the establishment of World Pneumonia Day in 2009. More than 100 organizations representing the interests of children also joined forces and observed the first World Pneumonia Day on 12 November 2009. Since 2009, every November 12 is observed as World Pneumonia Day and is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

World Pneumonia Day 2024 Celebration

The Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia organizes many events, seminars and workshops to observe World Pneumonia Day. The organization is comprised of over 140 NGOs, academic institutions, government agencies and foundations. Interested people can participate in these events and activities to become more aware of the day. You can also join your local health bodies or medical organizations and participate in their campaigns and spread awareness about the disease. You can also donate your money and/ or time at a hospital that works towards betterment of pneumonia patients. Teach others about the infection, the day and encourage them to do the same.

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