SAANS Campaign
Summary
- Program Overview: Launched in November 2019 under the National Health Mission, SAANS is an annual campaign targeting childhood pneumonia, aiming to reduce pneumonia-specific mortality to <3 per 1000 live births by 2025.
- Core Objectives: Aims to generate community awareness, promote early care-seeking, strengthen case management capacity, and accelerate the coverage of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).
- The PPT Strategy: Operates on a three-pronged framework to Protect (via exclusive breastfeeding and nutrition), Prevent (through complete vaccination and reducing air pollution), and Treat (via early recognition of danger signs and prompt care).
- Implementation Activities: Involves health workers conducting door-to-door screenings to identify suspected cases, administering pre-referral Amoxicillin, and ensuring facilities are equipped with essential supplies like oxygen and pulse oximeters.
- Monitoring & Recent Focus: Utilizes real-time tracking via digital portals and integrates with broader programs like RBSK; the 2025β26 campaign emphasized health facility strengthening in high-burden districts.
Introduction
- SAANS: Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully
- Launched by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in November 2019 under National Health Mission
- Targets childhood pneumonia β leading cause of under-5 mortality (accounts for ~16.3% of U5M in India)
- Annual campaign: 12 November (World Pneumonia Day) to 28/29 February every year
- Tagline: βPneumonia nahi, toh bachpan sahiβ
- Goal: Reduce pneumonia-specific mortality to <3 per 1000 live births by 2025
Objectives
- Generate community awareness on pneumonia symptoms, prevention and treatment
- Promote early identification, care-seeking and timely referral by caregivers
- Strengthen health system capacity for pneumonia case management
- Accelerate coverage of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and other UIP antigens
- Reduce indoor/outdoor air pollution exposure linked to pneumonia
Three-Pronged Strategy (PPT Approach)
1. Protect
- Exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months
- Adequate complementary feeding and nutrition (linkage with POSHAN Abhiyaan)
- Hand hygiene and clean environment
2. Prevent
- Complete vaccination schedule (PCV, Hib, Measles-Rubella, DPT, OPV, Rotavirus)
- Reduce indoor air pollution (clean cooking fuels, avoid smoking)
- Environmental protection (avoid outdoor play during high AQI)
3. Treat
- Early recognition of danger signs by caregivers/ASHA
- Prompt care-seeking within 24 hours
- Standard case management as per National Childhood Pneumonia Management Guidelines 2019
Key Activities & Implementation
- Community level (ASHA/AWW/ANM):
- Door-to-door visits: Screen all 0β5 year children
- Identify suspected pneumonia (fast breathing, chest indrawing, danger signs)
- Pre-referral single dose of syrup Amoxicillin + immediate referral
- Use of pulse oximetry at sub-centre/CHC level
- Facility strengthening:
- Availability of oxygen, antibiotics, pulse oximeters at all levels (HWC to district hospital)
- Training of service providers on revised pneumonia guidelines
- Oxygen therapy and supportive care for severe pneumonia
- IEC/BCC:
- Mass media, wall paintings, rallies, school health programmes
- Focus on myths, air pollution and vaccination
- Convergence:
- Integration with RBSK (screening for respiratory conditions), RKSK, UIP/U-WIN, IMNCI
- Linkage with National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and climate change initiatives
Monitoring & Reporting
- Monthly reporting from states/UTs to MoHFW on screening coverage, referrals, PCV coverage
- State/district task forces for review
- Real-time tracking through RCH portal and ABDM
Recent Developments (2025β26 Campaign)
- Campaign ran from 12 November 2025 to 28 February 2026
- Nationwide rollout with emphasis on health facility strengthening and community awareness
- Focus on high-burden districts; continued integration with AB PM-JAY and digital platforms
- Sustained action beyond campaign period through routine IMNCI and RBSK