Odisha ramps up infra for paediatric care amid fears of third wave

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of Covid-19 cases among children during second wave and possibility of increase in cases among the age group, the Odisha government directed medical colleges and hospitals and existing Covid hospitals to create a designated wing for coronavirus suspected pediatric cases for better management.

In a letter to the medical colleges and hospitals and district headquarters hospitals, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department PK Mohapatra stated as strict isolation of Covid-19 positive pediatric cases may not be possible in general wards and there are chances of transmission of infection to non-infected children, a separate wing in the existing Covid hospital must be set up.

One attendant will be allowed for the pediatric patients after considering the situation of the case.

All DHHs and SDHs were asked to earmark at least 10 beds for isolation of the suspected cases and take steps for transfer of the symptomatic patients to the Covid care facilities. At the level of CHC, two to four beds will be earmarked as isolation bed for management of suspected cases, the letter read.

In the seven medical colleges and hospitals in the State, 64 NICU beds, 94 PICU/SNCU beds, 44 HDU beds and 155 isolation beds have to be kept reserved for suspected Covid-19 positive pediatric cases, the letter stated.

The Covid care centre having ICU facilities were asked to earmark 15% of the capacity for children.
All Superintendents of the Government medical colleges and CDMOs and PHOs of districts were advised to stock sufficient medicine, consumables and medical oxygen.

Sishu Bhawan, Cuttack was directed to create a dedicated Covid block, the letter read.

The State government took the decisions on basis of the recommendations of the Technical Committee for Paediatric care in the case of possible third wave.