World Pneumonia Day: Every Breath Counts.

World Pneumonia Day is an opportunity for governments, international organizations, health professionals and society in general to work together to implement preventive measures.

Every November 12th is World Pneumonia Day, a date that has become an incentive to raise awareness in the international community about this worrying disease that year after year claims millions of lives and, in turn, to promote the necessary interventions to prevent and treat it adequately and in a timely manner.

Established in 2009 by the Global Coalition Against Childhood Pneumonia, this day seeks to raise awareness in the global community about a condition that in 2009 caused more than 740,000 deaths.

It is mostly caused by viruses that affect the respiratory tract and inflame the pulmonary alveoli, such as influenza and SARS-Cov-2, and, among bacterial agents, pneumococcus. Pneumonia or pneumonia can affect children under five years of age, adults over 60 and people suffering from chronic diseases with and without immunosuppression, as well as those with certain habits that are harmful to their health, such as smoking.

Despite multiple efforts by relevant organizations, agencies and authorities, this disease continues to be underestimated and with little progress in terms of decreasing its incidence and mortality, hence recent initiatives such as the #PneumoLight campaign contribute to weighting the training of the population about this condition, the early detection of symptoms and the necessary preventive actions.

Ensuring universal access to health care, including influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, is essential to significantly reduce the number of deaths from pneumonia and ensure a healthier future for all.

World Pneumonia Day is an opportunity for governments, international organizations, health professionals and society in general to work together to implement preventive measures, improve access to treatment and realize a future where, like a breath of life, every breath counts.

Written by Yadiel Barbón Salgado.