Published On : Thu, Sep 14th, 2017

Maha Health Minister announces three NICUs in state

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Nagpur: In a bid to decrease the Infant Mortality Rate, state Health Minister Deepak Sawant has announced construction of three Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the state. The announcement was made by him in a Press Conference on his visit to Nagpur on Thursday.

The units will be established in Amravati, Chandrapur and Nashik. The unit specializes in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. Sawant also announced that 280 new incubators will also be installed.

Several deaths due to malnutrition are reported in Vidarbha especially Amravati. But, as claimed by the health minister, this statistics has seen a decrease after attempts being made by government. He also stated that Chandrapur has also witnessed child deaths due to the same reason i.e. malnutrition.

As is the data, 3,290 children were born in Chandrapur in between April 2016 and August 2017. Out of these, 2,216 children weighed more than 2.5 kilograms, 1,074 children weighed below 2.5 kilograms, 559 weighed between 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms. 17 children were reported to be weighing even below 1.5 kilograms.

Sawant informed that the low weight of a pregnant woman, affects the weight of newborn as well which has contributed to increase in Infant Mortality rate of the state of Maharashtra.

Daga Hospital to have a capacity of 550 beds:

Health Minister also praised the Daga hospital constructed solely for deliveries. He said that as the number of patients being admitted to the hospital is more than its capacity. At present, the hospital has 350 beds which will be increased to 550 soon.