Smog-induced health crisis deepens

Hospitals under stress as 75k sufferers seek treatment for respiratory problems

LAHORE:

Over 75,000 people suffering from respiratory problems sought medical help across Punjab on Saturday because of toxic smog and air pollution, according to sources in the healthcare monitoring authorities.

In addition, 3,359 patients of asthma, 286 of heart diseases, 60 of stroke and 627 of conjunctivitis visited hospitals.

The highest number of patients affected by air pollution were registered in Lahore, where 5,353 people suffering from respiratory diseases, 359 of asthma, 171 heart disease, 20 stroke and 303 conjunctivitis were taken to hospitals.

Lahore and a number of other cities in Punjab remained in the grip of the worst spell of smog, affecting the citizens' health.

The sources said the major hospitals in Lahore and other populous cities faced an emergency situation with thousands of patients suffering from diseases caused by pollution seeking treatment.

A health emergency had bene declared by the Punjab government in Lahore and Multan divisions, where several restrictions had been imposed during the past fortnight to cope with smog.

Schools, colleges and universities were closed in both divisions and all outdoor public activities banned.

Parks were also shut and market timings restricted to protect the citizens from exposure to the smog.

Artificial rain was also induced, which resulted in rain in areas, but the intensity of the smog has persisted.

The prolonged spell of worsening air pollution has strained the capacity of the hospitals in major urban centres.

The authorities have cancelled he holidays of medical staffers and made additional arrangements to serve the patients in the government hospitals.

However, the monitoring staff of the department of Primary and secondary healthcare have recorded an alarming situation.

A senior official of the department's monitoring wing said the load of patients on the hospitals had peaked and it might become difficult in the coming days to deal with the thousands of patients seeking treatment in the outpatient and emergency departments.

The official said over 1.91 million patients of respiratory diseases had been brought to government hospitals in the past 30 days, including 133,429 in Lahore. In addition, 119,462 patients of asthma had been registered, including 5,577 in Lahore.

Lahore accounted for 5,455 of the 13,862 heart patients treated in hospitals across the province during the month marred by smog and 491 of 5,141 patients of stroke.

The number of citizen afflicted by conjunctivitis in the province was 11,913, including 1,945 in Lahore.

The official said the situation had worsened during past week with 449,045 patients of respiratory problems, 30,146 of asthma, 2,225 of heart diseases, 1,400 of stroke and 3,889 of conjunctivitis visitng hospitals across the province.

A health department spokesman, Sayed Hamad Raza, said the situation was serious but the authorities had made maximum arrangements inn hospitals.

All emergency leaves of the medical staff had been cancelled and treatment services were being provided round the clock hospitals with officials of the health ministry continuously monitoring the situation, he added.