Shillong, Nov 12: Fifty-three newborn babies in East Khasi Hills alone died of pneumonia between April and September this year, said District Maternal & Child Health Officer Dr EL Kharmutee on Wednesday while announcing the launch of a campaign for accelerating action to reduce childhood pneumonia deaths.
The campaign, which will be held from 12 November 2025 to 28 February 2026, aims to accelerate action against pneumonia—a leading cause of under‑5 deaths—by improving awareness, early identification, and management at both community and facility levels.
She informed that key activities will include training health care workers and frontline staff (ASHAs, Anganwadi workers) on pneumonia management, community awareness drives via Village Health Nutrition Days, ensuring uninterrupted supply of pulse oximeters, oxygen, antibiotics, and other essentials and promoting care‑seeking behaviour and eliminating exposure to indoor smoke (e.g., advising gas/electric cooking, no smoking near children).
Dr. Kharmutee emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between the community and health system.
“This campaign enforces the commitment of the National Health Mission to ensure health, survival and growth of every child… Together let us reaffirm our commitment to safeguard every newborn and child, ensuring that they not only survive but also thrive,” she said.
In conjunction, the National Newborn Week will run from November 15 – 21 2025, with the theme “Newborn Safety: Every Touch, Every Time, Every Baby.”
The week will highlight safe delivery practices, infection prevention, early breastfeeding, kangaroo mother care, and strengthening facility‑based newborn units (SNCUs, NBSUs, NBCs).
Awareness activities will engage communities, ANMs, ASHAs, and Anganwadi workers to improve newborn health outcomes nationwide.
