‘Paediatric Covid Wing’ to come up in Covid hospitals in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Amid reports of surge in cases of Covid infection in paediatric age groups in different parts of the country, the Odisha government today decided to create a designated ‘Paediatric Covid Wing’ in the Dedicated Covid Health Centres (DCHCs) and Dedicated Covid Hospital (DCHs).

In a letter to medical colleges, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, CDMOs, PHOs, Collectors and Municipal Commissioners, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare department PK Mohaptra asked them to reserve 15% of beds initially in the Isolation Ward, HDU and ICUs as the Paediatric Covid Wing to meet future challenges.

Neonates, infants and other paediatric age groups will undergo treatment at the dedicated Covid wing. Considering the future situations more beds will be added to the dedicated Covid wing, the letter mentioned.

Also, the letter asked to earmark a Covid-19 newborn unit in existing SNCU/NICU with strict isolation and infection prevention and control measures.

One of the parents will be allowed to remain as an attendant.

The letter added Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPGIP), Cuttack will act as the nodal centre for monitoring and provision of technical input to treat paediatrician in other parts of the State.

All private hospitals and hospitals run by corporate houses, NGOs, missionaries and philanthropic organizations are also required to create such facilities, it read.