500 beds being set up for third wave in Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur: Gorakhpur has started preparing for the anticipated third wave of Covid-19. As the third Covid wave is likely to hit children, the government has instructed officials to increase ICU and ventilator beds for children in Gorakhpur BRD Medical College and other hospitals of the district. As many as 500 beds are being reserved for children in the district.
BRD Medical College principal Dr Pawan Pradhan said that the preparations have begun as per the instructions on third Covid wave given by the government. Beds have been reserved and an ICU has been made for children in the encephalitis ward of BRD Medical College. There are 400 beds reserved for children in BRD Medical College. Out of these, 177 beds are placed in a fabricated ward which will be used as a Covid ward. The wall of the fabricated ward is made of plastic instead of concrete, and is easily accessible.
The health department is planning to add two beds at CHCs with paediatric ICUs. There are three mini encephalitis centres with three ventilators beds in the district. The administration is planning to add two more beds at each of these centres. Apart from this, the district hospital has 17 beds for children. The administration is planning to increase five more beds. As per requirement, more ICUs and ventilators would be made available by the government, said CMO Dr Sudhakar Pandey.
The CMO said that help from private hospitals would also be taken. The private hospitals will be asked to increase ICUs and ventilator beds for children.
There are many hospitals in the city which are already equipped with NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and ICU wards for children. Help from these hospitals would also be taken, he said.
“Preparations are underway for training paediatricians for the third Covid wave. KGNU and SGPGI doctors will give online training to the paediatricians. Specialists and doctors across the country who have played a vital role in treating children suffering from Covid, will also be the part of training programme” said the CMO.