LAHORE: In the congested paediatric emergency room of a Lahore public hospital, parents clutching sick children face a distressing surge in young patients amid Pakistan’s escalating air pollution crisis.
The severity of pollution-related health problems, particularly respiratory issues among children, has led to a significant increase in paediatric cases, with estimates suggesting a 50% rise in the last month alone.
Mohamad Qadeer, holding a nebulizing device to his three-year-old daughter Rameen’s nose, describes the tense atmosphere. Rameen and her one-year-old sister Inaaya are among the thousands of children grappling with the adverse health effects of Lahore’s toxic smog. Historically known as a city of gardens, Lahore earned the unenviable distinction of having the world’s worst air quality last year.
As November brought cooler temperatures, air quality levels in Lahore spiraled, with 24 out of the last 30 days marked as ‘hazardous’ or ‘very unhealthy’ by Swiss group IQAir. Dr Maria Iftikhar from Sir Ganga Ram hospital’s paediatric department notes a worsening situation, affecting children’s health, especially during the cooler months when temperature inversion traps pollutants closer to the ground.
Parents like Mohamad and his wife, Shazma, attempted to protect their children with masks and limited outdoor exposure. However, persistent coughing and fever prompted hospital visits, reflecting the profound impact on families.
Globally, outdoor air pollution is a significant contributor to child mortality, with UNICEF reporting 154,000 deaths of children under five in 2019. In Pakistan, air pollution ranks among the top five causes of death for the entire population, with young children and the elderly facing the most severe consequences.
Dr Javed Akram, provincial health minister, acknowledges the strain on hospitals, with beds and ventilators allocated for emergency cases. Efforts such as partial lockdowns and campaigns to promote masks have been implemented since November. Major contributors to the crisis include crop burning, poor fuel quality, and construction and industrial activities.
The provincial government is exploring solutions such as cloud-seeding to induce rain and consulting with neighboring countries for collaborative measures. Despite these efforts, Lahore continues to grapple with hazardous air quality, ranking as the world’s most polluted city. The government’s anti-smog measures, including a smart lockdown and vehicular traffic bans, have proven ineffective, highlighting the urgent need for evidence-based approaches to protect the most vulnerable, particularly small children.
