In view of the looming threat of the third COVID wave and the increased possibility of infection in children, the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science in Lucknow, has set up a dedicated pediatric ward here. The 50-bed facility has been centred at the old OPD of PGI's main building. As per reports, the ward is equipped with ventilators, oxygen support and other life-saving equipment, essential for COVID care.

Each bed in the paediatric ward to have oxygen supply

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Dr. RK Dhiman, the Director of SGPGI in Lucknow, has informed that the ward has been prepared under the supervision of the doctors of Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesia, Neonatal and Paediatric departments. Accordingly, the dedicated unit will accommodate the assistance of all these specialities. Doctors and health workers deployed here have been trained specially to understand and meet the need of young patients, Dr. Dhiman added.

Infrastructurally, every bed in the new ward is equipped with an oxygen facility. Meanwhile, special ventilators for children below the age of 2 years will be also be arranged. These machines will assist in the treatment of all children who weigh less than 10 kilograms.

The PGI Director has also highlighted that the need for ventilators in this ward, will not rise any more than 5-7%, of the total infected children. A separate nebulizer facility for the children will also be provisioned here. Elder patients will be simultaneously treated at the COVID hospital built in the Trauma Centre of PGI.