Sri Vijaya Puram, November 11: The SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully) campaign against childhood pneumonia will be held in the Islands from November 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027, with the aim of strengthening the health system and raising community awareness.
Childhood pneumonia remains a major public health concern and one of the leading causes of death among children under five in India, accounting for 17.2 per cent of the under-five mortality rate (U5MR). This year’s campaign carries the tagline “Pneumonia Nahi, Toh Bachpan Sahi” (No pneumonia means a healthy childhood).
World Pneumonia Day will be observed tomorrow (November 12). The observance aims to raise awareness about the protection, prevention and treatment of childhood pneumonia, encourage early identification and care-seeking among parents and caregivers, promote the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and create awareness about indoor and outdoor pollution. The SAANS campaign will mobilise communities to adopt practices that protect against, prevent and treat pneumonia, with the goal of reducing deaths from childhood pneumonia.
The public has been asked to cooperate with ANMs and ASHAs during their community visits for the early identification and management of pneumonia in children under five.
