State prepares for the third wave of COVID pandemic

The Government spokesperson informed that keeping in mind the anticipated third
wave of COVID pandemic, it has become a priority of the Government to protect
vulnerable children and to address pediatric COVID case management in the State. He
added that the protocol for the management of paediatric group has already been shared
with the Districts and the Medical Colleges on 3rd May, 2021. However the Health
Department is taking serious and focused steps to ensure that the vulnerable children are
taken care of, in this pandemic.
Government spokesperson informed that it is being ensured that SNCUs, Pediatric
HDUs, NICU, PICUs must be made functional on priority basis. He further informed that
all the Chief Medical Officers, Principals of Medical Colleges and Medical
Superintendents of District Hospitals and Civil Hospitals and Medical Colleges have been
directed to ensure the availability of paediatric ward and newborn units in dedicated
COVID Hospitals either by augmentation of existing facilities or ear-marking the beds in
existing facilities. It shall be ensured that these beds shall be preferably supported by
central oxygen supply. Presently there are 224 SNCU beds in 16 facilities across the
State. In addition, four New Born Stabilization Unit at DDU Shimla, ZH Dharamshala,
CHC Nalagarh and CH Nurpur, District Kangra are shortly going to be upgraded to Sick
Newborn Care Unit. Also there are seven Pediatric High Dependency Units in the State
which have 34 beds.
He further added that directions have been given to make an appropriate
emergency triage and treatment services for newborn and paediatric patients at all levels.
The diagnostic consumables, oxygen support, referral support, telemedicine facility are
required to be made available in all the designated facilities. The Human Resource
staffing plan for Pediatricians, Medical Officers, Staff Nurses involved in paediatric care
has to be made by the Hospital in charges. The department has also given directions to
make all the non functional equipment in SNCU, functional at the earliest.