PATNA: The state government has asked all medical colleges and government hospitals to improve facility for treatment of children in view of the expected third wave of Covid pandemic.
Health minister Mangal Pandey said the hospitals have been asked to increase the number of beds in paediatric wards, equip them with oxygen pipelines and keep important medical equipment ready for treatment of children.
He said the health department was providing all necessary equipment to the hospitals besides holding regular meetings with the superintendents and principals of the health institutions.
“Private hospitals and non-government organisations are also being encouraged to make advance planning to save children from the deadly virus,” the minister told this newspaper. He appreciated the Patna-based Mahavir Vatsalya Aspatal for creating a separate 90-bed children ward.
The Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) has almost completed its preparations for the future. “We have reserved one floor entirely for treatment of children in the event of third wave of Covid,” IGIMS superintendent Dr Manish Mandal said.
The Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) is also busy improving its childcare facilities. The hospital has started readying 60 new paediatric beds. The virus tends to mutate for its own survival and after witnessing the human sufferings in first and second waves, there are strong chances of its third wave,” PMCH superintendent Dr IS Thakur said.
The work on connecting 80 beds with oxygen pipeline is likely to begin soon, Dr Thakur said, adding in case of emergency, the hospital would arrange other facilities from its own resources.
The number of paediatric beds at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) has been increased from 84 to 124. “Additional equipment like infusion pump, monitors and ventilators have been provided by the health department,” NMCH superintendent Dr Binod Kumar Singh said. Though piped oxygen is available in all the beds, 99 oxygen concentrators have also been kept ready at NMCH.
Mahavir Vatsalya Aspatal director Dr S N Sinha said one floor of the hospital was dedicated for the 90-bed children ward. “The ward has been created keeping in mind the possible third wave of Covid,” he said.
