PESHAWAR: A distressing surge in pneumonia-related fatalities has been reported in Peshawar this month, with 46 children succumbing to the condition across three prominent city hospitals, according to statements from hospital officials.
The grim toll includes 20 children each at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), while Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) in Peshawar recorded an additional six casualties, hospital sources confirmed.
Compounding the severity of the situation is the influx of approximately 700 children seeking treatment for pneumonia at the Outpatient Departments (OPD) of these hospitals on a daily basis, as revealed by hospital officials.
LRH, in particular, is grappling with overcapacity, with a significant number of affected children coming from suburban areas, raising concerns among hospital authorities.
As temperatures plummet and the cold intensifies, health officials observe a rapid increase in the virulence of the pneumonia infection and accompanying high fever. They stress the heightened vulnerability of immunocompromised children to the debilitating effects of the illness.
The unfolding crisis demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from health authorities to address the pneumonia outbreak and prevent further loss of young lives in Peshawar.
