Peshawar Smog Crisis: Over 1,000 Suffer from Chest, Flu Infections Daily

APP  

Peshawar: Peshawar, the provincial metropolis of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has been in the grip of smog due to the emission of poisonous smoke and increasing dust in the prevailing winter season. This has affected the city’s residents with seasonal diseases, including chest infections, respiratory congestion, flu, and fever.

Among the victims of smog, the majority of people are children and elders, who are most vulnerable to infectious diseases.

More than 1,000 patients are being registered on a daily basis in the chest and pulmonology wards of the three main teaching hospitals in Peshawar.

According to a report by the KP Health Department, more than 9,000 patients have visited different hospitals in Peshawar with complaints of chest infections and high fever in the last week.

The majority of patients are complaining of a chest infection with a severe fever and headache and are advised antibiotics along with other medicines, including anti-allergy and cough syrups.

In cases of fog and smog, people are advised to take some precautionary measures, such as covering their faces with a mask, as advised by Dr Taj Muhammad, senior chest specialist and office bearer of the Pakistan Chest Society.

Dr Taj also advised elderly people to spend most of their time indoors and avoid visiting outside, especially at peak times of coldness.

He said increasing coldness coupled with smog has made chest infections viral in the region, and people are advised to take preventive measures like keeping themselves warm and protected besides washing their hands to ensure hygiene.

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), the air quality level in Peshawar is at an alarming level of more than 200 AQI.

On November 28, the AQI level was registered at 161 AQI, but still it is tagged as `Un Healthy for Public Health, and people are advised to avoid outdoor exercise, the closing of windows to avoid dirty outdoors, wearing masks outdoors, and running an air purifier.

On November 26, 2023, the air quality level in Peshawar touched record dangerous levels of pollution at 285 AQI, with an indication on the monitor of `Very Unhealthy.

Citizens have requested the quarters concerned take action against major polluters, including smoke-emitting industries, vehicles, and open burning.