To protect kids from third wave of COVID-19, UP to have 100-bed pediatric ICUs in each district

According to reports, the Chief Minister has directed the state health officials to make ordered special arrangements at hospitals on the lines of ICU to ensure top class treatment for severely infected children.

Lucknow: Intensifying the preparations to protect children from the deadly COVID-19 infection, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a big decision – to establish a 100-bed pediatric ICU in each district of state soon.

According to reports, the Chief Minister has directed the state health officials to make special arrangements at hospitals on the lines of ICU to ensure top class treatment for severely infected children.

As directed by the Chief Minister, each district of the state will soon have a 100-bed pediatric ICU with all the resources, known as PICU. The Pediatric Intensive Care Units or PICUs will become functional in hospitals of all metropolitan cities, including Lucknow, to protect children from the deadly Coronavirus.

प्रत्येक जिला चिकित्सालय में 10 बेड तथा हर मेडिकल कॉलेज में कम से कम 25 बेड का पीडियाट्रिक आईसीयू (PICU) बनाने की कार्यवाही प्रारम्भ की जाए।

स्वास्थ्य विभाग और चिकित्सा शिक्षा विभाग द्वारा व्यापक कार्ययोजना बनाकर यथाशीघ्र कार्य प्रारम्भ कराया जाए: #UPCM श्री @myogiadityanath जी

— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) May 11, 2021

Sharing more details, the state government spokesman said that the Chief Minister has given instructions to set up at least 100 pediatric beds in every district.

Salman Khan, a pediatrician at Dufferin Hospital in Lucknow, said that the decision of the Yogi government to set up 50-100 pediatric beds in all the major cities would prove very effective in the treatment of children.

He stated that all the facilities have been provided in PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) for children above one month, NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for children below one month and SNCU (Sick Newborn care Unit)- established at maternity hospitals.

These 10-15 bed PICUs in district hospitals and 25-30 bed PICUs in medical colleges will be small in size and will have a railing on the sides. Severely infected children will be provided with treatment and oxygen.

The chief minister has already said that if needed, assistance will be taken from ex-servicemen, retired officers. He also said that students receiving medical education can train and provide teleconsultation to the patients.