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Sources have cited that Nov 2 will be celebrated by about 50 child health organisations, located around the globe, as the first World Pneumonia Day.
According to the reports from Global Coalition against Pneumonia, more than two million children below five years succumb to pneumonia every year.
"Pneumonia is largely preventable through vaccination. The main aim behind celebrating World Pneumonia Day is to provide necessary medication to the world's most vulnerable countries," said Nitin Shah, who is the chairperson of the Indian chapter of Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumococcal disease prevention (ASAP).
India is reported to have the maximum number of pneumonia cases across the world, with a contribution of 27%. Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh, in that order, are the places from where pneumonia cases are reported in large numbers. Africa and Asia record the highest number of pneumonia causes and deaths.
"The health ministry should include pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), which immunises children against pneumonia and other diseases. India cannot achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds unless we tackle pneumonia burden in the country," he said.
