Ranchi: In light of the prediction of an incoming 3rd wave of Covid-19 the preparations to avert and control the Corona infection is in full swing in the state. Doctors, experts, and scientists have raised concern over the possibility that the third wave will adversely affect children. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is personally supervising the arrangements and has directed the authorities to set up child-friendly Pediatric Intensive Care Units(PICUs) in the state public health facilities in all districts.
Pediatric Intensive Care Units(PICUs) are being developed in all public hospitals including Sadar hospital and some CHCs across the state so that the infected patients in rural areas may get better treatment near their villages for free. In addition to the general children’s services, dedicated services for children are being developed in all districts. They are equipped with ventilators, pediatric ventilators, bubble CPAPs, radiant heaters, an oxygen supply facility, and other types of equipment that are necessary for the treatment of infants.
Moreover, child-friendly rooms are being designed to provide a comfortable environment for the children. Different types of attractive paints suitable for children are being used in the PICUs; curtains, sheets, and blankets used in PICUs are colorful and beautifully designed to create a friendly environment for children. Even televisions are being installed to provide a restful environment to the children. The corridors of the yards and rooms of the hospital will remain accessible to children.
Shelves are also being set up with several storybooks and other learning materials. While districts like Koderma, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Gumla, Latehar, Giridih have already completed PICU work, the work is still going on in other districts.
A 27-bed intensive care unit has been completed in Ranchi while at least 40 more intensive care beds are in the works. The retrofitting of 30 PICU beds in East Singhbhum is going on. A 20-bed intensive care unit was finished in the Koderma district. A 130-bed children’s ward is being constructed in various CSCs and Sadar hospitals of Giridih and Hazaribagh districts. Work on over 70 PICU beds in Dhanbad and Khunti is almost completed.
The chief minister said, “The government is preparing in advance to wage war against the new wave of Corona. The government will spare no effort to provide all possible health facilities for the population and children. He further added, “We fought courageously against the second wave. The second wave was a lesson for the government, it made it possible to find loopholes in its health facilities. This time, we are preparing in advance.”
