In the crowded pediatric emergency room of a public hospital in Lahore, parents with ailing children formed a queue for treatment this week, reflecting a surge in young patients attributable to the air pollution crisis in Pakistan’s second most populous city.
Mohamad Qadeer, holding a mobilizing device to his three-year-old daughter Rameen’s nose, expressed concern and tension as he administered medication to alleviate her congested airways with a billow of steam.
Rameen and her one-year-old sister Inaaya are just two among the numerous children grappling with health issues linked to pollution. Health authorities estimate a notable 50% increase in pediatric patients suffering from respiratory problems exacerbated by the deteriorating air quality in the past month.
Once known as the city of gardens, Lahore is now enveloped in toxic smog, earning it the dubious distinction of having the world’s worst air quality last year.
As temperatures dropped in November, air quality plummeted. Swiss group IQAir reported that 24 of the last 30 days witnessed ‘hazardous’ or ‘very unhealthy’ air quality levels.
Dr. Maria Iftikhar, a senior registrar at Sir Ganga Ram hospital’s pediatric department, remarked, “It has gotten a lot worse than the previous years, and it is affecting the health of the children.”
Lahore, with its 11 million residents and cultural significance in Pakistan, is now shrouded in thick haze, impeding sunlight and blanketing streets in nighttime fog.
The severity of the problem intensifies in cooler months, with temperature inversion trapping pollutants closer to the ground.
Despite efforts by parents like Mohamad and his wife Shazma, who tried to protect their children with masks and limited outdoor exposure, the relentless coughing and fever persisted, leading to sleepless nights.
More mothers and children waited nearby for their turn, with a doctor navigating through crowds holding an infant, accompanied by a porter with an oxygen canister for the baby.
“Inshallah (God willing), they will be better soon,” Shazma said.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. UNICEF notes that globally, outdoor air pollution contributed to 154,000 deaths of children under five in 2019. In Pakistan, it ranks among the top five causes of death for the entire population, with young children and the elderly being the most severely affected.
“Children are physiologically more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because their brains, lungs, and other organs are still developing,” said UNICEF, highlighting that children breathe twice as fast as adults, increasing their exposure.
Expressing the need for strong government measures, Shazia, cradling her nine-month-old son Mohammad, emphasized the suffering of small children. Hospitals are on high alert, with beds and ventilators reserved for emergency cases. Partial lockdowns and mask promotion campaigns have been initiated since November.
Provincial health minister Dr. Javed Akram cited crop burning, poor fuel quality, and construction and industrial activities as major contributors to the problem. While acknowledging the challenge of curbing burning without jeopardizing food security, the government explores solutions like cloud-seeding for artificial rain and seeks collaboration with neighboring India and China to improve air quality.
“Our pediatric hospitals are overwhelmed with the burden from the respiratory issues…the most vulnerable are small children,” Akram said.
