Effective diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia is critical to improve child survival. In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goal targets for SDG 3.2.1 – reducing child mortality – ending preventable diarrhoea and pneumonia-related deaths is an urgent priority, said a WHO statement released on 12th November — the World Pneumonia Day. 

The UN Health Agency said that a number of countries including Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia have developed district, state and national plans to intensify actions for the control of pneumonia and diarrhoea. Many more have integrated diarrhoea and pneumonia specific action into their national child health and child survival strategies, it added.