Gondia launches SAANS campaign to protect children from pneumonia, runs till February 2027

Gondia, November 13: The public health department is running the SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully) campaign across the country to reduce child deaths from pneumonia. It has now begun in Gondia district too. Started on World Pneumonia Day, November 12, 2026, the campaign will run until the end of February 2027.

The main aims are to reduce pneumonia cases among children, identify symptoms in time, provide proper treatment and prevent child deaths. District Health Officer Dr Abhijit Golhar said the National Health Policy 2017 sets a target of bringing child mortality from pneumonia below three per thousand live births. He said the campaign would prove a lifeline for the district's children.

Assistant District Health Officer Dr Arvindkumar Waghmare said the campaign places special emphasis on three principles, Protection, Prevention and Treatment, or "PPT". Under it, awareness is being spread on starting breastfeeding within an hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, complementary feeding after six months, timely vaccination, vitamin A doses, handwashing and keeping household air free of pollution.

District Maternal and Child Health Officer Dr Rajesh Belamkar said a special awareness drive on PCV vaccination will be held. Under the Universal Immunisation Programme, the PCV dose is given at six weeks, 14 weeks and nine months. The health department will make special efforts to complete vaccination of as many eligible children as possible.

To reach people, the department will use house-to-house visits, meetings of mothers, Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Days, social media, posters, video messages, loudspeaker announcements and street plays.

The health department has said parents should contact the nearest health centre immediately if children show symptoms such as fast breathing, chest indrawing, cough or difficulty breathing. According to the department, it is essential not to ignore a child's illness and to get treatment in time.

The health department of Zilla Parishad, Gondia, has appealed, with the slogan "Pneumonia nahi toh bachpan sahi" (no pneumonia, a healthy childhood), for parents, families and all members of society to take an active part in keeping children safe from pneumonia.