Shillong, Feb 1: Health Minister James PK Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated Meghalaya’s first Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at a government-run institution at Ganesh Das Government MCH Hospital in Shillong.
Inaugurated the Paediatric ICU (PICU) at Ganesh Das MCH Hospital, Shillong today.
The PICU will provide critically ill paediatric cases with the highest medical care needed for the best possible outcome, and ensure that the most vulnerable receive timely care and attention.
— James K Sangma (@JamesSangma1) February 1, 2022
Sangma said the inauguration of the PICU is significant in view of the fears that the third wave of COVID-19 will target children and the state wasn’t equipped with facilities to tackle such cases. At the same time, he said the inauguration is symbolic since it has happened in the year when Meghalaya is celebrating its 50th statehood.
I would like to applaud the Health Department for taking this initiative to improve the health facilities in the State, particularly in facilitating life-saving care of our children.
P.C: @ShillongTimesIn @nemediahub pic.twitter.com/jSbhzzXtZJ
— James K Sangma (@JamesSangma1) February 1, 2022
“I think it is very symbolic, it’s very significant and the need of the hour that today we are being able to inaugurate this paediatric ICU and I’m indeed very honoured and privileged to be the person to inaugurate this,” the Health Minister said.
He also mentioned that more than 30% of the cases in Ganesh Das hospital are paediatric related and this shows the urgency and the need for having a PICU at the hospital.
DHS (MI), Dr Aman Warr termed the inauguration of the PICU as a red letter day since the hospital was lacking this health care facility. According to him, this will go a long way to provide better health care service to the paediatric and children.
Principal Secretary of Health department, Sampath Kumar, informed that this is the first PICU in the government run institutions adding that another eight similar facilities will be coming up in other government health centres across the State.
He also stressed that the setting up of this facility in this hospital is all the more important since 15 percent of the institutional deliveries in a calendar year take place here.
The work to setup the PICU facility started in June 2021 and was recently completed.
