Pneumonia death toll reaches 220 in Punjab.

LAHORE – The impact of pneumonia on children remains alarming, with reports indicating that 12 children have succumbed to the illness in the past 24 hours in various parts of Punjab. This brings the total number of deaths to 220 since January 1.

Official data reveals that Punjab has witnessed 1,077 new cases of pneumonia in the last 24 hours, with a significant number of affected children being under the age of five.

Among the 12 reported deaths in the past day, three occurred in Gujranwala, two each in Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur, and one each in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, and other locations.

Similarly, Lahore has reported 251 new cases of pneumonia, contributing to a total of 1,821 cases since the beginning of the year.

Punjab’s caretaker Health Minister, Prof Javed Akram, noted that most of the affected minors were not vaccinated. He attributed the surge in cases to extreme weather conditions and the low rate of breastfeeding among mothers.

Prof Akram underscored the adverse impact of cold, dry weather, smog, and fog on children’s health, particularly those with weakened immune systems. A study conducted at the Children’s Hospital revealed that 72 percent of children suffered from pneumonia due to viral infections.

The health minister emphasized the importance of vaccination and urged mothers to breastfeed their children in well-ventilated rooms to reduce the risk of pneumonia. He also cautioned against exposing children to gas heaters in enclosed spaces.

In South Punjab, public sector hospitals recorded 152 of the total 220 deaths since January 1, with 43 fatalities among children under five. Dr Shakeel Ghazi, head of pediatrics at Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College, mentioned that most deceased children were unvaccinated, malnourished, and had weakened immune systems due to insufficient breastfeeding.