The state branch of Indian Academy of Paediatrics will organise seminars and workshops to spread information on pneumonia in an attempt to reduce child mortality from the disease.

On Wednesday, the association launched the campaign, Fight Pneumonia and Save a Child, to mark World Pneumonia Day. It is observed every year on November 12.

The state branch will organise the seminars for a week to raise awareness on the disease and the preventive measures to be taken.

Utpal Kant Singh, a member of the state branch of Indian Academy of Paediatrics, said: 'Pneumonia kills an estimated 1.4 million children under the age of five years every year around the world, more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. It is alarming that India accounts for almost 25 per cent of these deaths. The need to create a clean environment, address the issue of malnutrition, breastfeeding for the first six months, immunisation and appropriate healthcare delivery for children can significantly reduce the mortality rate from pneumonia. The state chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics on Wednesday started its campaign to educate the people about the disease. Seminars and workshops would be organised for a week in the various districts to disseminate information on it.'

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory disease in which the lungs are infected by bacteria, virus, fungus or parasite. Its symptoms include high fever, breathing problem and restlessness.

Singh added: 'According to the World Health Organization, 
streptococcus pneumoniae, responsible for the pneumococcal disease, is the prime cause for the hospitalisations and death among children below five years. Pneumococcal disease can manifest as lung infection, brain infection, blood infection, ear infection or sinus infection. Infants, mostly premature babies with underdeveloped lungs, narrow airways, poor nutrition and immature immune system, are at high risk of contracting these infections.'

B.P. Jaiswal, the vice-president of the state chapter, said children need to be vaccinated against pneumonia on time. 'The first pneumococcal vaccine should be given to a baby within six weeks of birth and another when the child is 10-week-old. The third vaccine needs to be given in the 14th week. Children given vaccines on time have low chances of developing pneumonia,' he said.