State

Protecting children from pandemic; Health dept prepares plan

Thursday, 15 July 2021 | PNS | Dehradun

The Health department of Uttarakhand has prepared a comprehensive plan to deal with the probable third wave of the pandemic of Covid-19 in the state. The director general (DG) of state health services, Dr Tripti Bahuguna informed that in view of the possibility of a greater number of children being affected in the possible third wave, treatment and management protocols have been prescribed . The department has also released a detailed set of directive in this regard on June 3 this year.

She said that as per an assessment done by the department on impact of Covid 19 on children, only five per cent of them would require hospitalisation, three per cent could need oxygen supported beds while two per cent would require admission in ICU.

The director of NHM, Dr Saroj Naithani who also is heading the task force constituted for the purpose informed that the there would be a need for 694 beds for children in government hospitals while 1446 oxygen supported beds are available currently, similarly 277 ICU/ High Dependency units (HDU) will be required, relative to which 1889 such beds are available in government hospital, private hospitals and medical colleges. She further informed that 432 Neonatal ICUs and 383 paediatric ICUs are available in government and private hospitals for children which would be adequate. She added that a total of 3646 oxygenated and 573 ICU beds are available in government hospitals of the state, similarly 2579 oxygenated and 934 ICU Beds are available in private hospitals of the state. According to the NHM Director, 184 metric tons of oxygen is required for the beds available in government and private hospitals, while the supply of 200 metric oxygen has been fixed for Uttarakhand by the Government of India. Dr Naithani informed that, there are 335 paediatricians in the state who have been specially trained for the treatment and management of Covid-19 infection. Apart from this, staff nurses and other paramedical personnel have also been given training related to the treatment and care of infections in children. The department has also made a plan according to which 20 per cent ambulances of 108 emergency service will work only as paediatric ambulances.

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