LANDI KOTAL: Doctors at the agency headquarters hospital here have expressed their inability to admit pneumonia-affected children due to prolonged and unscheduled loadshedding.

During a meeting held on Monday at the hospital, they argued that pneumonia children required continuous nebulization and warm temperature in wards which was not possible due to almost 20 hours of loadshedding.

Meanwhile, infuriated parents exchanged hot words with the doctors when their pneumonia-hit children were refused admission at the hospital and were referred to Peshawar owing to lack of proper facilities.

The doctors said that at least six children died of pneumonia in Landi Kotal during the last two weeks as they could not be given the required treatment.

Landi Kotal and adjoining areas are in the grip of severe cold as the region received snowfall in the mountainous areas and rains in the plains. Dozens of children contracted pneumonia due to severe cold.

Many parents complained that they could not keep their homes warm due to loadshedding and hike in the prices of firewood and LPG cylinders.

The doctors at the agency hospital threatened to go on an indefinite strike if continuous power supply was not ensured to hospital.

Published in Dawn January 17th, 2017