Officials at Herat Regional Hospital report a rise in respiratory illnesses, particularly pneumonia among children, as the weather gets colder.
Around 1,000 children suffering from pneumonia visit the hospital daily for treatment, officials said.
Mirwais Abedi, the head of the pediatric department at Herat Regional Hospital, stated: “Many children do not receive timely treatment. Despite providing all the necessary facilities, we still face fatalities. Families should take their children, even if they are suffering from a common cold, to the nearest health center.”
Meanwhile, some patients’ families have expressed satisfaction with the improved services at the hospital.
Wahid Shah Haidar, one such family member, said: “The hospital provides the required medicines directly from their own supply.”
Another family member, Abdul Wadood, said: “We brought our patient here yesterday, and they are now doing better. The care provided has been excellent.”
Doctors identify cold weather, weak immune systems, unhealthy diets, and the spread of colds as the main causes of pneumonia in children.
Mohammad Qasim Rahimi, a physician, explained: “To prevent this disease, hygiene must be maintained. Patients with pneumonia should be under care and follow a proper diet.”
Officials at Herat Regional Hospital also said that sick children from neighboring provinces such as Farah, Badghis, and Ghor are brought to the hospital for treatment. However, they emphasized that the hospital’s pediatric facilities are insufficient to meet the needs of all patients.
