SHILLONG: The health department of Meghalaya launched the Social Awareness Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) initiative on Thursday to eradicate pneumonia from the state. The deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district, R M Kurbah, launched the SAANS initiative at the community hall in Rangbihbih, East Khasi Hills, marking a crucial effort in combating this health challenge.Highlighting the initiative’s focus on awareness, Kurbah urged the villagers to come forward to link their Aadhaar with the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme. She also said one of the strategies to tackle child mortality from pneumonia is the introduction of the pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine into the state’s immunization schedule. “This vaccine aims to significantly reduce pneumonia cases among children,” the deputy commissioner added.We also published the following articles recently 'Pneumonia outbreak not alarming' How dangerous is the new pneumonia outbreak in China? China warns of coming respiratory surge after pneumonia hit kids