LAHORE, Dec 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided anti-diphtheria serum to the health department to deal with any emergency after the death of six children from diphtheria in Punjab and hospitalisation of several others during the last couple of months.

The WHO arranged the serum from available stocks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and handed over to the provincial health authorities.

The Punjab government had contacted the WHO for immediate supply of the serum for the children hospitalised due to diphtheria complications.

“The WHO is aware of diphtheria-related deaths and reported cases of the infectious disease in the province,” WHO Punjab Operations Officer Dr Babar Alam told Dawn.

He said the WHO provided the serum to prevent further deaths from diphtheria, adding that it would continue to assist Pakistan to fight infectious diseases.

Meanwhile, the health department has issued necessary instructions to administrations of various hospitals to take care of the children admitted for diphtheria treatment. The hospitals were directed to administer the serum to affected children in accordance with the protocol of immunisation. — Staff Reporter