PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at Gandhi Shatabdi Eye Hospital will soon be expanded to 12 beds. It is important to mention that this unit was recently established at the hospital. Initially, the unit was equipped with six beds to provide care for newborns. However, it has become evident that additional beds are necessary to meet the growing need for the facility.
Informing about this, the Principal Medical Superintendent (PMS) at the hospital Dr Manu Jain stated that the newly established SNCU unit at the hospital has been effectively providing service to patients. However, he said that a rise in the number of newborns visiting the SNCU, leading to the realisation that the six available beds are inadequate. Currently, the hospital has admitted 10 newborns, while only six beds are available.
Despite this challenge, the hospital administration has managed the situation. In light of the increasing number of newborns in the SNCU, an initiative spearheaded by the DM has led to the decision to expand the unit from six to 12 beds. The expansion process at the hospital has now commenced, with the tender process for essential equipment, including oxygen supply and other necessary resources, currently underway. Jain said that the unit is currently staffed by two pediatricians and three medical officers, one of whom is a contractual paediatrician, as well as one medical officer on a contract basis.
Jain stated that there are currently some nursing officers assigned to the unit; however, with the expansion of the SNCU unit, an additional ten nursing officers will be deployed, along with two ward boys. He said that the expansion of the SNCU unit from six beds to twelve is anticipated to be completed and commenced within a month.
