Health Dept launches ‘SAANS’ Campaign to prevent Pneumonia among children
Ferozepur, November 12, 2025: Under the SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully) programme, the Health Department today launched an awareness campaign to prevent pneumonia among children. The campaign was inaugurated by Dr Rajwinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, who released an awareness banner to mark the beginning of the initiative.
The SAANS program, or Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully, is a nationwide Indian government initiative launched in 2019 to combat childhood pneumonia deaths. Its main objectives are to raise community awareness about pneumonia's symptoms and prevention, promote early identification and care-seeking by caregivers, and encourage preventive measures like vaccination. The campaign typically runs from November to February each year.
Dr Rajwinder Kaur informed that the campaign will continue until February 28, 2026, to protect children from pneumonia and promote healthy practices among families. During this period, health teams will conduct awareness drives across urban and rural areas to educate people about the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures related to pneumonia.
She emphasised that pneumonia remains a leading cause of death among children under five years of age in India. Through the SAANS programme, the department aims to reach every household with crucial information to prevent this life-threatening disease.
Dr Meenakshi Dhingra, District Immunisation Officer, highlighted that according to a recent survey, out of every 1,000 live births in India, around 20 children below the age of five die each year, with pneumonia being a major contributing factor. She urged parents to recognise early symptoms and seek timely medical treatment to save lives.