Rising mercury exposes gaps in hospital systems
From Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat to Mardan, temperatures are soaring dangerously. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of more heat in the coming days, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius in Peshawar; a level of heat that health experts believe is life-threatening, especially for children and the elderly.
"There has been a clear rise in climate-related heat in K-P due to global climate change. Countries that have effectively managed climate challenges must be studied and their strategies should be localized. Infrastructure projects have led to the cutting down of thousands of trees, which were never replaced," noted Professor Dr Muhammad Nafees, Chairman of the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Peshawar, who believed that unless swift action was taken, the province may see more heatwaves, floods, and natural disasters in the near future.
On the other hand, medical staff in the city's major hospitals are now stretched thin. Dr Ahmad Khan, a medical officer at the emergency department of the Khyber Teaching Hospital revealed that they were receiving 10 to 15 heatstroke cases daily; a number that is steadily climbing. "Most patients are either elderly people or children. Along with heatstroke, we are also witnessing a spike in diarrhea and other gastrointestinal infections, which are directly linked to excessive heat," said Dr Ahmad who urged the public to stay indoors during peak heat hours and increase fluid intake.
At the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, the province's largest public health facility, similar concerns were echoed. Muhammad Asim Khan, the hospital's spokesperson, told The Express Tribune that between 50 to 60 patients affected by heat-related illnesses were being admitted daily. However, there was no dedicated ward for dealing with such cases.
"There is no designated facility or cooling center for heatwave patients. We are transferring them to the general emergency medical ward, where doctors and nurses are trying their best to stabilize them. But the volume of patients is increasing fast, and this approach is not sustainable," warned Dr Khan.
As K-P struggles with climate unpredictability, the glaring lack of preparedness is putting lives at risk. With no emergency plan in place, no public awareness campaigns launched, and no infrastructure adapted for high temperatures, the province appears to be dangerously lagging in its response to one of the most predictable yet deadly effects of climate change.
Experts warn that without long-term climate resilience policies including urban tree plantation, public cooling centers, awareness drives, and hospital preparedness, K-P could face even deadlier summers in the years ahead.
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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Rising mercury exposes gaps in hospital systems
Over the past few years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has faced a dual climate crisis, with intermittent rainfall in some areas, and an unrelenting heatwave in others, leading to a surge in heatstroke and waterborne illnesses. Despite the worsening situation, authorities have yet to take meaningful preventative steps or establish dedicated heatwave response mechanisms in hospitals. From Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat to Mardan, temperatures are soaring dangerously. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of more heat in the coming days, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius in Peshawar; a level of heat that health experts believe is life-threatening, especially for children and the elderly. "There has been a clear rise in climate-related heat in K-P due to global climate change. Countries that have effectively managed climate challenges must be studied and their strategies should be localized. Infrastructure projects have led to the cutting down of thousands of trees, which were never replaced," noted Professor Dr Muhammad Nafees, Chairman of the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Peshawar, who believed that unless swift action was taken, the province may see more heatwaves, floods, and natural disasters in the near future. On the other hand, medical staff in the city's major hospitals are now stretched thin. Dr Ahmad Khan, a medical officer at the emergency department of the Khyber Teaching Hospital revealed that they were receiving 10 to 15 heatstroke cases daily; a number that is steadily climbing. "Most patients are either elderly people or children. Along with heatstroke, we are also witnessing a spike in diarrhea and other gastrointestinal infections, which are directly linked to excessive heat," said Dr Ahmad who urged the public to stay indoors during peak heat hours and increase fluid intake. At the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, the province's largest public health facility, similar concerns were echoed. Muhammad Asim Khan, the hospital's spokesperson, told The Express Tribune that between 50 to 60 patients affected by heat-related illnesses were being admitted daily. However, there was no dedicated ward for dealing with such cases. "There is no designated facility or cooling center for heatwave patients. We are transferring them to the general emergency medical ward, where doctors and nurses are trying their best to stabilize them. But the volume of patients is increasing fast, and this approach is not sustainable," warned Dr Khan. As K-P struggles with climate unpredictability, the glaring lack of preparedness is putting lives at risk. With no emergency plan in place, no public awareness campaigns launched, and no infrastructure adapted for high temperatures, the province appears to be dangerously lagging in its response to one of the most predictable yet deadly effects of climate change. Experts warn that without long-term climate resilience policies including urban tree plantation, public cooling centers, awareness drives, and hospital preparedness, K-P could face even deadlier summers in the years ahead.
Business Recorder
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Heatwaves in Spain caused 1,180 deaths in past two months, ministry says
MADRID: High temperatures caused 1,180 deaths in Spain in the past two months, a sharp increase from the same period last year, the Environment Ministry said on Monday. The vast majority of people who died were over 65 and more than half were women, the data it cited showed. The most affected regions were Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias and Cantabria - all located in the northern half of the country, where traditionally cooler summer temperatures have seen a significant rise in recent years. Like other countries in Western Europe, Spain has been hit by extreme heat in recent weeks, with temperatures often topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The 1,180 people who died of heat-related causes between May 16 and July 13 compared with 114 in the same period in 2024, the ministry said in a statement citing data from the Carlos III Health Institute. The number of deaths increased significantly in the first week in July. Two dead in Spain fire as heatwave scorches Europe The data shows an event 'of exceptional intensity, characterized by an unprecedented increase in average temperatures and a significant increase in mortality attributable to heatwaves', the ministry said. In the period the data covers, there were 76 red alerts for extreme heat, compared with none a year earlier. Last summer, 2,191 deaths were attributed to heat-related causes in Spain, according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute. The data from Spain follows a rapid scientific analysis published on July 9 that said around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during a severe heatwave in the 10 days to July 2. It was not immediately clear whether the study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was using the same methodology as the Spanish data.
Express Tribune
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- Express Tribune
Heatwave dampens Eid recreation
A severe heatwave gripped South Punjab during the Eid holidays, forcing people to stay indoors as temperatures soared up to 45 degrees Celsius across the region. Public parks, recreational spots and streets wore a deserted look during what is usually a festive holiday season. The extreme heat left little room for traditional family outings or outdoor celebrations. "It's just too hot. We don't even feel like stepping out of the house," said Salman Amjad, a local resident. "You feel drained the moment you open the door." According to the Meteorological Department, the heatwave is expected to persist until June 12, with no significant drop in temperature forecast in the coming days. Many residents, especially those who returned to their hometowns for the Eid, preferred staying indoors with their families. "We chose to stay inside. After eating meat, the heat feels even more unbearable," said Asim, a resident of Nawabpur. A healthcare expert, Dr Waqas Arqam, warned that high temperatures, combined with heavy meat intake on the Eid, might cause dehydration and fatigue. He advised citizens to drink plenty of water, avoid exposure to the sun and limit physical activity. Local authorities also reported a noticeable drop in footfall at public places, with parks, play areas and tourist spots largely empty on all three Eid days.
