NEARLY 70% of infant deaths (0-1yr) occur in the first 28 days of life i.e., neonatal period. Undoubtedly it is prudent to say that our main focus in at GB Pant Hospital at Sonawar should be to prevent neonatal deaths first.
 So there is a dire need of well equipped Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) comprising of things like: infant ventilators with disposable tubings, ABG and electrolyte analyser, capillarybilirubinometer, infusionpumps, automatedexternal defibrillators(AEDs), portable X-Ray, portableUSG, cardiorespiratorymonitors, infant radiant warmers, incubators, phototherapy units (LED), split air conditioners and most importantly complete neonatal resuscitation trolleys with life saving drugs.
 For manning the neonatology unit there must be well qualified 2 to 3 Neonatologists (a super specialist having 3 yr degree after MD pediatrics), intensivist, well trained critical care nurses and pharmacist deputed there who would take care of NICU and simultaneously guide and train the senior and junior doctors and nurses in NICU so that high risk and critically ill newborns like Low Birth Weight babies (LBW including premature and Iugr), Neonatal sepsis (NNS), Severe Birth Asphyxia (SBA),Neonatal Jaundice (NNJ) and Neonatal Meningitis (NNM) could be attended constantly, treated and saved in a scientific way.
 But just adding more ventilators and other equipments in NICU would not reduce neonatal death rate significantly unless Neonatologists from outside the state would be deployed immediately. The staff for NICU and the children hospital are completely separate. Neonatologists are fully trained how to handle life threatening conditions which pose a great risk to life to newborn babies. They also are fully trained to operate equipments designed for newborns.
 Lastly, ambulance with ventilator facility (critical care ambulance) should be provided for ferrying of critically sick newborns from Lala Ded Hospital to GB Pant Hospital to reduce the morbidity and mortality.
 I hope concerned authorities will take it seriously to help the society in a best way.

Dr Showkat Shah,
Srinagar
Email:shahshowkat07@gmail.com

Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST