The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department is facing significant challenges in controlling the rapid spread of an eye infection throughout the province, with over 13,000 new cases reported just yesterday. Nearly 900 new cases were confirmed within the past 24 hours.
Despite efforts to crack down on the use of a particular injection, the number of patients experiencing vision loss has also risen, with at least 10 new cases confirmed.
Hospitals across Punjab are grappling with the immense task of treating thousands of eye patients on a daily basis. In the past 24 hours alone, health authorities have confirmed 13,732 new cases of the eye infection, including 887 patients admitted to government and private hospitals in Lahore.
Monitoring staff from the Primary and Secondary Healthcare department report that this eye disease has now spread to almost every district in Punjab. A department spokesperson revealed that a total of approximately 368,000 cases of eye diseases have been confirmed in Punjab this year, with 21,724 of these cases in Lahore. Bahawalpur has the highest number of patients, totaling 72,503, including 3,878 new cases reported on Thursday. Multan is also severely affected, with 14,493 patients registered since January, including 1,208 in the past 24 hours. Faisalabad saw 1,721 new cases, bringing the yearly total to 27,583. In Gujranwala, 219 new cases raised the total to 14,581.
A senior health official expressed concerns about the poor performance of high-ranking officials in both the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Healthcare and Specialized Healthcare. He lamented that while countless patients were suffering, these officials seemed preoccupied with meetings, a
Moreover, the number of patients suffering from vision loss in Punjab has reached 78, with 10 new cases admitted to the Mayo Hospital and currently under treatment. These patients are undergoing tests to determine their condition. Cases of vision loss due to injections have been confirmed in six districts, including Lahore, Kasur, and Multan.
Despite the challenges, spokesperson Syed Hamad Raza reassured the public that health authorities are making every effort to manage the situation. Government hospitals have made necessary arrangements, and district hospitals throughout the province are offering maximum facilities to patients. Ministers are also actively working to address the crisis, emphasizing their commitment to combatting the situation, similar to their successful efforts against diseases like coronavirus and dengue in the past.