ICU-on-wheels for babies

Bihar will soon have an intensive care unit (ICU) on wheels, exclusively for newborn babies.

The ICU-on-wheel would have facilities like ventilator, equipment for radiological and pathological investigations, blood gas analyser, incubators and facility to monitor vital indicators of babies. Aboard it would be a five-member team of doctors and paramedics to attend to babies even while being transported to hospital.

There would also be facility for conducting minor surgeries in the vehicle which will have all necessary life-saving drugs stocked in it.

Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital-Patna, which specialises in treating babies, has taken the initiative to launch the vehicle. "We are expecting to start the ICU-on-wheels services some time in August this year," hospital director Dr Uday Pathak told.

Underlining the need of having such a facility in Bihar, Dr Pathak said, "Out of the 2,000 neonatal cases our hospital receives every year on an average, one-third are those of birth asphyxia which needs immediate medical support." Birth asphyxia is a condition in which the brain of newborn baby gets damaged due to lack of oxygen supply. This, needless to say, leads to other complications.

"The ICU-on-wheels would allow the needy to get timely medical support even during the travel time taken to bring the baby to the hospital," said hospital's senior paediatrician Dr Rakesh Singh, who is in-charge of this ambitious project.

Dr Singh said phone numbers would be made available on which calls can be made to get the vehicle. A mechanism is being worked out to ensure that the vehicle starts its journey within five minutes of receiving a call.

Dr Pathak said the idea is to serve the areas in and around Patna which can be reached within six hours. "With this in mind, we would be able to provide the services to major parts of the state," he added.

Incidentally, ICU-on-wheels for neonatal cases are commonplace in south- Indian states and their functioning has received appreciation from one and all. link