World Pneumonia Day 2022

In 2022, Every Breath Counts joined forces with the Mérieux Foundation to award 11 civil society organizations small grants to raise their voices and strengthen local engagement in the fight against pneumonia.

From Côte d’Ivoire to Zimbabwe; Bangladesh to Pakistan; Philippines to Uganda; 11 civil society organizations took on the local fight against pneumonia during the 2022 World Pneumonia Day Week of Action. The 11 winners were selected from 60 outstanding proposals as part of the Mérieux Foundation and Every Breath Counts Small Grants Awards to support World Pneumonia Day events that strengthen local engagement in the battle against the leading infectious killer of children and adults.

Most of the populations dangerously exposed to pneumonia live in a group of countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America – including the 11 countries that are home to the winning entries. Their efforts to mobilize communities to educate and empower families, and strengthen health systems to prevent, diagnosis and treat pneumonia, will make a big difference to a disease that is both preventable and treatable.

1. Community Working Group on Health, Zimbabwe

School children, community groups, and health workers took part in marches, music, drama, and dance to mark a World Pneumonia Week of Action in Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe. Local health workers gave talks on how to identify and manage childhood pneumonia in the home and community. A press conference marked the occasion, with calls for improved access to diagnosis and management of childhood pneumonia.

2. ONG Agis, Côte d’Ivoire

Primary school children sent a clear message to children around the country: “protect yourself with pneumonia.” This kicked off World Pneumonia Week of Action under the chapeau of Digital Lung Week – which included a vaccination, awareness-raising, and screening campaign, a Twitter Space broadcast, and a charity evening. The iconic lighthouse in Grand Bassam was illuminated blue as part of the PneumoLight Campaign.

3. Rural Women Development Trust, India

During a World Pneumonia Week of Action, community health workers ran health and pneumonia awareness-raising camps for the hardest-to-reach rural populations in Salem District, Tamil Nadu. A ‘Hospital on Wheels’, with guest physicians, provided health consultations to the communities. Monthly health camps will continue to provide healthcare to these underserved communities – reaching around 5,000 people

4. Hope for Vulnerable Children Association, Cameroon

The children of Cameroon showed the world how to stand up and fight the number one infectious killer of children as part of an impressive roadshow. Children sang, danced, held placards, and recorded video messages to demand action against childhood pneumonia in Cameroon. There were also debates, talk shows, and drama to raise awareness and demystify witchcraft beliefs associated with child pneumonia in the community.

5. Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Bangladesh

More than 1,000 people attended rallies as part of an awareness-raising campaign on pneumonia prevention and management. An advocacy workshop was conducted to sensitize rural medical practitioners on the causes and prevention of pneumonia and treatment procedures. These activities helped to influence the medical profession and health policymakers to include pneumonia control as part of the national health strategy.