Punjab Caretaker Health Minister Professor Javed Akram Monday expressed that the low rate of breastfeeding is a major cause of the pneumonia deaths among kids.
Talking to a private news channel, he said that lack of breastfeeding can also result in stunted growth in children and so the health department is taking steps to encourage this feeding and nursing of infants in early ages.
To another question, he said that the Punjab has reported around 17,000 pneumonia cases so far this, with a mortality rate of 1.3 percent.
He said media need to run massive awareness campaigns to educate the public about benefits of mother feed and for timely vaccination.
A majority of victims of pneumonia are malnourished kids with low immunity, he said, adding, mothers must breast-feed their children to boost their immunity against such diseases.
Minister for Health said that malnutrition and promotion of breastfeeding remained a top priority agenda of the current government as relevant ministries and departments have been endlessly engaged in efforts to address the issue of malnutrition and to control Pneumonia cases. Replying to a question, he said the there was rise in pneumonia cases in Punjab to the prevalent winter season resulting air pollution, especially smog. Smog, a consequence of air pollution, has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the spike in pneumonia cases. The minister added that the situation is improving with the intensity of the winter season subsides in the coming months.
The deadly pneumonia continued to claiming lives as 18 more children have succumbed to the disease in Punjab.
A total of 869 pneumonia cases were reported across Punjab the other day, with Lahore alone witnessing 177 new cases, said a private news channel.
Punjab so far recorded 258 deaths and 14,530 cases due to pneumonia, while the provincial capital, Lahore, reported 53 deaths and 2,490 cases during the same period.
The current surge in pneumonia-related deaths indicates a troubling trend, with over 60 children losing their lives in the past four days14 on January 24, 12 on January 25, 13 on January 26, and 7 on January 27.
Today, on January 28, an additional 18 children have reportedly died from pneumonia. Health experts attribute the rise in pneumonia cases in Punjab to the prevalent winter season and the resulting air pollution, especially smog. Smog, a consequence of air pollution, has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the spike in pneumonia cases. Pneumonia, characterized by an infection in the lungs, is predominantly caused by viral infections, and its symptoms can appear after experiencing cold or flu.
It can range from mild to severe, with young children, especially those under 5-year old, being more susceptible to the disease.
