From Abid Usman
LAHORE: At least 18 more children die of pneumonia in Punjab during the last 24 hours due to increase in cold weather.
As per health department data, 1062 cases of pneumonia were reported during the period with the majority of them being from Lahore. In January alone, 780 cases were reported in Lahore in government hospitals while 4900 pneumonia cases in Punjab.
To save children from catching pneumonia, the government has decided to impose a ban on holding a morning assembly in schools till Jan 31. Meanwhile, caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has expressed grave concern over the rise of pneumonia cases among the children in Punjab.
Earlier, Punjab Caretaker Health Minister Prof Dr Javed Akram has warned of rising cases of pneumonia among the children across the province, saying the most-affected patients are aged under one year.
Talking to the media at the University of Chlid Health Sciences (UCHS) here on Tuesday, he said the National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued guidelines on pneumonia and whooping cough.
UCHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Sadiq, Children Hospital Medical Director Prof Dr Tipu Sultan, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Junaid Rasheed and Pediatric Medicine department Chairman Prof Dr Javed Iqbal were also present.
Prof Rasheed gave a detailed presentation on pneumonia in children. The experts talked about prevention of pneumonia.
