Shillong, Nov 12: Pneumonia has claimed the lives of 53 babies in East Khasi Hills from April to September 2025.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, East Khasi Hills District Maternal & Child Health Officer Dr EL Kharmutee announced the launch of a campaign for accelerating action to reduce child pneumonia deaths from November 12 to February 28, next year.
The campaign is against pneumonia, a leading cause of under‑5 deaths.
She said the activities are 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 the 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.
The National Newborn Week will also be 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.
