The second wave of the pandemic Corona, was an eye opener for all especially for the health infrastructure in city. Though there are Government hospitals, but the need of a dedicated children hospital of at least of 500 beds is the need of the hour, said Dr Praveen Dubli, Social worker associated with Zero Mile Foundation.
While talking to The Live Nagpur, Dubli further added that the population of the city is currently above 46 lakhs. In 2011 the population was around 24 lakhs. “If we compare the population of children in the year 2011 (0 to 6 years) children were 2,57,438 and girls (0 to 6 years) was 2,39,649. This population now have almost doubled in 2021. Also, if we look at the latest figures in rural, the children (0 to 18 years) are 5, 73, 294. Including urban and rural, this figure goes up to 15 lakhs.â€
Considering this data, increasing the health facilities in the city has become the need of the hour. Medical, Mayo, Daga and AIIMS hospitals are present in the city but only 1 or 2 wards are available for children in these hospitals.
“In Daga Hospital, only newborn babies are taken care. Which is very less in proportion to the present population of children. Meanwhile, there are more than 300 paediatricians in the city,†He said.
Patients from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also come to Nagpur to get health facilities. Everyone has to depend on private hospitals only. Which proves costly to the general public.
Dubli said, “As per the prediction the third wave is said to have a direct impact on the children. In view of this, instructions have been given to make temporary arrangements for 200 beds in the Government hospital located in the city. Similarly in rural areas also temporary arrangement of 50 beds is being made in all tehsil places. In which it has been said that an expenditure of crores of rupees will be made. On the basis of the data received, Rs 50 lakh will be spent in each tehsil for the installation of complete system.
A total expenditure of Rs.6 crore 54 lakh is proposed. This arrangement is also being made jointly by the National Health Mission and the district administration.â€
He further added that the city has grown horizontally and vertically and its circumference has increased to 50 km.
Today there is a need for an independent well equipped children hospital in the city. Presently the Empress Mill is closed. A state-of-the-art children’s hospital of central India can be built in its place. With the joint efforts of National Health Mission, Municipality and State Government and the efforts made by MP and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for this hospital, this 500 bedded children’s hospital in the heart of the city will be beneficial and convenient and can become a reality in the city.
It is worth mentioning here that a children’s heart hospital has been built in the capital of Chhattisgarh. There is no cash counter in this hospital.A similar Children’s Hospital is located in Indore, Bangalore, Mumbai as well.
