On World Pneumonia Day (November 12), the medical, health and family welfare department along with Save the Children organisation will organise a run from Amar Jawan Jyoti here to spread awareness about the disease.

Dr Manisha Chawla, a paediatrician said, “One of the main reasons for high under–5 mortality rate in the state is pneumonia. Also, in Jaisalmer and other areas where primary health centre (PHC) and community health centres (CHC) are at distances, the deaths due to pneumonia are high. Most of such cases are not reported as the ill child could not reach the PHCs or CHCs on time.” She added that poverty is also one of the reasons for pneumonia deaths. Pneumonia kills more children under 5 than any other disease in every region of the world.