World Pneumonia Day: Government Reiterates Commitment to Protect Every Child through SAANS Initiative

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World Pneumonia Day: Government Reiterates Commitment to Protect Every Child through SAANS Initiative

On the occasion of World Pneumonia Day, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to protect every child from pneumonia.
The Minister highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts under the SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully) initiative.
The SAANS campaign focuses on reducing childhood pneumonia mortality by strengthening health systems and enhancing community awareness.
It emphasizes the importance of early detection, prevention, and timely treatment of pneumonia to safeguard child health.
The Minister also underscored the campaign’s core message — “Pneumonia nahi, toh bachpan sahi” — symbolizing a collective national effort to ensure healthy childhoods.
Through this initiative, the government aims to promote multi-sectoral collaboration involving health workers, communities, and families to curb preventable deaths from pneumonia.
This reaffirmation aligns with India’s broader goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2, which seeks to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five by 2030.

World Pneumonia Day is observed annually on 12th November to raise awareness about pneumonia, the leading infectious cause of death among children under five years globally.
Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus.
The disease can be prevented through immunization, adequate nutrition, and hygiene practices, and can be treated with timely medical intervention.
The SAANS initiative, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), aims to accelerate action against pneumonia through:
1. Strengthening capacity of health workers for early identification and management.
2. Ensuring availability of oxygen and antibiotics at health facilities.
3. Promoting community awareness to recognize symptoms early and seek timely care.
The initiative contributes to the goals of the India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) and the National Health Mission (NHM) in reducing under-five mortality.

Updated – 12 Nov 2025 ; 12:58 PM | NewsOnAir