The Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Navi has said that the government is starting an awareness campaign to combat the rising cases of pneumonia in the province, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
Presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday, he said that the move comes in response to the alarming statistics, with 36 children succumbing to pneumonia at Children's Hospital, Lahore, from January 1st to January 9th. Mohsen Naqvi emphasized the need for urgent action.
“To further raise awareness, media outlets are requested to invite pediatricians to morning shows.”
He said the majority of the victims are newborn babies.
“Pneumonia spreads like Corona, parents are requested to take care of their children's food. “In light of the severity of the situation, prep and nursery classes in schools have been temporarily closed until January 19th. While first-grade and other classes will continue, assemblies in schools have been prohibited until January 31st,” he added.
With the temperature dropping in the mornings, Naqvi advised elderly individuals to maintain a healthy diet, wear warm clothes, and use masks. In children's schools, masks have been made mandatory to curb the spread of pneumonia.
Children's Hospital emergency reveals a concerning statistic: 8 out of every 10 children admitted are diagnosed with pneumonia. To prevent further cases, parents are urged to focus on their children's diet and ensure they wear masks, he advised. If a child exhibits symptoms such as cough, fever, and sore throat, Naqvi advised keeping the child at home and not sending them to school.
He continued that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) to deal with pneumonia will be released in the media by the evening, accompanied by a notification from the school department.
Importantly, there is no need to close schools from the 1st to the 10th grade, as long as children are appropriately dressed in warm clothing. To ease the discomfort caused by tight uniforms, schools have been advised to allow children to wear comfortable clothing until January 31st.
Reassuring the public, Naqvi emphasized that pneumonia is an annual occurrence but can be prevented with collective efforts.