Ranchi: This Sunday the Hemant government organised an online training of hundreds of healthcare professionals in Jharkhand on critical care of children and management of intensive care units. In view of the Covid pandemic, specialist doctors from University of California, University of Texas and University of Illinois, USA conveyed their knowledge to hundreds of Jharkhand’s healthcare professionals to fight against the ongoing Covid war.
The health department and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had convened the first ever such conference jointly which was attended by Paediatricians working in state-run medical colleges and hospitals, district hospitals, malnutrition treatment centres, Special Newborn Care Units, NewBorn Stabilization Units and by the physicians and paediatricians who are going to be posted in the upcoming 28 new paediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
The Additional Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, IMA national president Dr. J.A. Jayalal, IMA national secretary Dr. Jayesh Lele, national president of IMA’s women wing Dr. L. Yesodha, National Health Mission (NHM) Director Ravi Shankar Shukla and doctors from various hospitals also took part in the webinar.
Dr Yonca Bulut, Professor of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Critical Care, Department of Paediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, and Los Angeles, USA, Dr. Ravi Kashyap, Associate Clinical Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine, USA and Dr. Pooja Kashyap, Paediatric Cardiologist, Director of Adult congenital Program and Assistant Professor, University of Texas, USA were the main spokespersons during the event.
While inaugurating the webinar, health minister Banna Gupta said, “It is estimated that around 7 lakh children in Jharkhand would be affected if and when the third Covid wave strikes. Total population of children below the 18-age group is around 1.44 crore in our state. With a possible 5 per cent strike rate, at least 7 lakh children are expected to contract the virus, as per the state health department estimates.”
He also emphasised that the state needs to be more vigilant to prevent loss of lives and said, “It is also feared that the more seriously affected children, might develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and even Black fungus infection in later stages.”
The health minister denounced the recent attacks on doctors during the Covid-19 pandemic and also assured them that the Medical Protection Act (MPA) would be implemented in the state.
The chairperson of women doctors wing of IMA Jharkhand, Dr Bharti Kashyap said, “This is the first time that such an international webinar has been arranged where specialists from top medical colleges in USA shared their insights and perspectives on combating a possible third Covid wave that is projected to affect several lakh children in Jharkhand. This interaction will help us to be prepared for the third wave.”
The USA-based specialists advised that to reduce the impact of a possible third wave of Covid infections, necessary steps must be taken that includes mechanisms to recognise early warning symptoms, putting in place child ICUs equipped with monitoring devices like electro-cardiogram and echo-cardiogram equipment and supported by advanced diagnostic and pathological testing facilities along with an efficient transport system to ensure quick hospitalisation. All such facilities should be manned by paediatric heart specialists and paediatric ICU specialist, nursing personnel and skilled workforce capable of managing all monitoring devices and interpreting pathological and diagnostic test results in shortest possible time, to make sure of prompt care to Covid affected children.
Furthermore, they emphasised the need of organising training for doctors, cardiologists, paediatric heart specialists, nursing staff, health care personnel manning radiological, diagnostic and path labs, ventilators, respiratory devices and other equipment. The experts also pointed out that proper stocks of essential medicines should be built for each paediatric ICU to take care of the child patients and all children showing signs of Coronavirus infection should be immediately shifted to designated paediatric ICUs.
Dr. Kashyap put forward a plea that respiratory ailments and heart problems in children caused by Covid should also be taken care of under the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Scheme, to provide financial aid to low-income groups.
