Amid the outbreak of viral diseases among children in North Bengal, the West Bengal Health Department has directed all medical colleges and hospitals in the state to improve their pediatric infrastructure. The government on Friday said 835 more Intensive Care Units (ICUs) will be set up for children in government hospitals, while an additional 90 ICUs for newborns will also be set up. The administration has also identified two more public hospitals – Bankura Medical College and Malda Medical College – which will be earmarked for treating Covid pediatric cases.
A team of five doctors visited Jalpaiguri on Friday to take stock of the situation as around 760 children in north Bengal are undergoing treatment for various viral diseases.
“The situation is very much under control and the infrastructure is also being upgraded to deal with the situation if the situation worsens. Maximum cases suspected to be of RS virus [Respiratory Syncytial Virus], which is also common during weather changes but this time it is a bit early,” said a senior health official.
The team met the health administration of North Bengal and visited the pediatric wards of government hospitals in Jalpaiguri and Siliguri. The team has been directed to submit a detailed report to the Health Bhavan, the headquarters of the state health department.
Three newborns admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital with fever, shortness of breath and dry cough have died – two on Wednesday night and one on Thursday. They are among five children who died in the medical facility in the last three days.
The hospital administration said the children were brought to the hospital in a critical condition, which did not give doctors a chance to treat them. At present, 186 children are being treated in the hospital for cold, cough and shortness of breath. Sources said that none of them were Covid-positive. The hospital has formed a committee of pediatricians, while the health department is also monitoring the situation.
Health department officials said the swab test reports – by the School of Tropical Medicine in Kolkata – of 10 children admitted in Jalpaiguri and Siliguri had revealed that three children were suffering from RS virus, while three more were found to be suffering from Influenza B virus. . The swabs of two children could not be tested due to poor quality.
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the viral cases among children. He said, ‘The situation should have been monitored from the beginning. I hope that the health system of the state will be further strengthened and there will be more emphasis on the health sector.
In response, State Transport Minister Firhad Hakim said, ‘I would advise them to check the health systems here. BJP-Governed state.
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