Punjab province in Pakistan is facing a heartbreaking surge in child fatalities attributed to pneumonia, with 13 more children succumbing to the illness in just one day.
The alarming death toll has now reached four hundred and five children this year alone, according to the Punjab Health Department.
The devastating toll includes two children from Lahore, three from Faisalabad, and two from Bahawalpur, highlighting the widespread impact of the illness across various regions. Additionally, Sheikhupura lost two children, while Gujranwala, Multan, and Rawalpindi each mourned the loss of one child to pneumonia.
Within a span of 24 hours, three hundred and four children were diagnosed with pneumonia in Punjab, underscoring the urgent need for intervention and support. Throughout the year, over twenty-nine thousand cases of pneumonia have been reported in the province, with Lahore alone witnessing one hundred and fourteen children being hospitalized in a single day.
The Punjab Health Department has issued a plea to parents, urging them to ensure their children complete the immunization course. Immunization remains one of the most effective preventive measures against pneumonia and other infectious diseases, offering vital protection to vulnerable children.