Pakistan is grappling with a surge in pneumonia cases, particularly affecting children, amidst a harsh cold wave and smog. In January alone, Punjab, the country’s most populous province, reported over 18,000 pneumonia cases and 300 deaths, attributed to the dry and cold winter conditions which increase children’s susceptibility to respiratory infections.
To mitigate the spread, the provincial government has extended school holidays, reduced classroom hours, and mandated the use of face masks. Despite these measures, hospitals like the Children’s Hospital in Lahore are inundated with daily admissions of pneumonia cases.
Although Pakistan offers free vaccinations against respiratory diseases at six, 10, and 14 weeks of age, vaccine uptake remains a challenge due to widespread misinformation, with some even deeming vaccination as un-Islamic.
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Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Awan, Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), emphasizes the importance of completing the vaccination course for children under two years old. However, he notes that the available vaccines are not entirely effective against the prevailing viral pneumonia. Nevertheless, there is an adequate stock of pneumonia immunization vaccines available for both children and adults, which can only be imported with government permission.
Furthermore, factors like premature births and malnutrition contribute to weakened immunity in children, making them more susceptible to pneumonia. Additionally, Unicef highlights the correlation between childhood pneumonia fatalities and air pollution, with roughly half of such fatalities linked to polluted air.
Warnings from health experts emphasize the need for rest, warm beverages, steam baths, or humidifiers to maintain indoor air moisture, and timely medical consultations. Pakistan is among the 13 countries globally where pneumonia is an annual concern, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat the disease’s spread.