Covid 3rd wave: Himachal government prepares to save kids

Shimla, May 29

The government is making all arrangements to tackle the anticipated third wave of Covid-19 so as to protect the vulnerable population of children through proper paediatric management.

The protocols were shared with all districts and the medical colleges in the state on May 3. “The Health Department is making efforts to ensure that the children are taken care of during the pandemic,” said Nipun Jindal, Director of the National Health Mission (NHM).

Efforts were on to ensure that beds should be preferably supported by central oxygen supply. At present there are 224 sick newborn care unit (SNCU) beds in 16 facilities. Besides, four newborn stabilisation units at the DDU Hospital, Shimla; Zonal Hospital, Dharamsala; Community Health Centre, Nalagarh; and the Civil Hospital at Nurpur in Kangra district would soon be upgraded to SNCUs. Also, there were seven Paediatric High Dependency Units in the state having 34 beds, he added.

Jindal said directions had been issued to all medical colleges and health institutions to ensure complete preparedness to meet all paediatric needs. “All Chief Medical Officers, Principals of the medical colleges and the medical superintendents of hospitals had been directed to ensure the availability of a paediatric ward and newborn units in dedicated Covid hospitals either by augmenting the existing facilities or earmarking beds in the existing facilities,” he added.— TNS