Soon, UP to have 352 new PICU beds

Being set up under the National Health Mission, these units will come as a huge relief for children affected by Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, Japanese Encephalitis, respiratory distress, high fever, other such ailments

LUCKNOW For better healthcare, Uttar Pradesh will soon have 352 new paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) beds in 88 government hospitals and medical institutions in 72 districts. With this addition, the number of PICU beds will go up to 512 across the state, said a state government press statement.

Children up to 12 years of age will get better treatment at these district level facilities. (Pic for representation)

Being set up under the National Health Mission (NHM), these units will come as a huge relief for children affected by Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, Japanese Encephalitis, respiratory distress, high fever, other such ailments and parents who find it hard to get their children admitted to a healthcare facility.

Children up to 12 years of age will get better treatment at these district level facilities. “The state is making efforts to provide better healthcare to children and continuous steps are being taken in this regard,” said deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak, who is also UP’s health and family welfare minister.

As per data, every year around 5382299 lakh live births take place in Uttar Pradesh. Of these, about 5099365 lakh survive beyond five years while 282934 lakh fail to cross this age. With the establishment of these PICUs, the below-five mortality would also go down.

Some of the districts where PICUs will come up include Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Auraiyya, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Etah, Firozabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Hathras, Jhansi, Mainpuri, Mathura, Meerut, Bijnor, Badaun, Farukhabad, Hardoi, Kasganj, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Rampur, Saharanpur and Sambhal.