In a state where over 500 children, under five years, die each day and 2.8 lakh perish each year, strengthening healthcare facilities and home-based newborn care programmes are a must.

Improving upon demands and the reach of routine immunization, prevention and management of childhood illnesses should be a priority for the state government.

Addressing the same, the state health department is planning to set up 352 Pediatrics Intensive Care Units (PICU) in 72 districts of UP. The move is aimed at ensuring better health facilities for children and reducing the Infant mortality rate in the state.

Reportedly, over 53 lakh babies are born in the state every year, out of these, only 50.9 lakh survive beyond five years. According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, the Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) stands at 59.8%, meanwhile, Infant Mortality Rate was lower at 50.4% from 63.5% in the 2017-19 survey.

Over 50% of Under 5 Mortality is caused due to serious health conditions like Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), Japanese encephalitis (JE), Pneumonia, etc.

In an attempt to advance the health care services in the state, the proposed PICUs will help in decreasing the U5MR to the target level of 30%. The state currently has 77 Sick Neonatal Care Units (SNCU) in the district level hospitals, 344 beds in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in 12 medical colleges, and 160 PICU beds for children suffering from Acute Encephalitis (AES) and Japanese encephalitis (JE) in 16 district level hospitals.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, "The state government is constantly making efforts to provide better healthcare to children and continuous positive steps are being taken in this regard. We have instructed officials to expedite construction work of PICUs so that children suffering from serious diseases can get better treatment."

With the addition of 352 PICUs, the state will have a total of 512 PICUs. Reportedly, the construction of these PICUs has already started. The facility will come up in 88 government hospitals and medical institutions. These units will be equipped with modern facilities, and ventilators and will have at least four beds.