THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The paediatric oncology division in the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) here, considered to be the first and best in the country, is likely to further improve its services with the setting up of a Paediatric Oncology Intensive Care Unit. Giving an impetus to the proposed project, Shashi Tharoor MP has sanctioned Rs 25 lakh from the MP’s Local Area Development Fund for the purpose. The paediatric division is taking care of children with malignancies below the age of 14 years. Around 600 patients are newly registered in the division each year.
The most common malignancy diagnosed in the paediatrics age group is acute leukemia. One of the most aggressive forms of malignancy, children affected with this disease are prone to developing many life-threatening complications due to their disease as well as due to the intensive chemotherapy regimens they receive. Children affected with other malignancies are also prone to developing serious complications.
The proposal submitted by RCC to Tharoor states that the life-threatening medical emergencies developing in children necessitate intensive care in a high dependency unit. It has been suggested in the proposal that a fully-equipped separate ICU with state-of-the art instruments like multi-parameter meter monitors, infusion pumps, ventilators etc is essential to improve the quality of comprehensive treatment delivered to the paediatric oncology patients.
Two cubicles situated at the entrance of the paediatric oncology wards will be set apart for establishing the ICU. Centralised medical air and oxygen portals, facility for air-conditioning, adequate illumination and ventilation, power supply point equipment, generator back-up and easy access to medical team are available in this area.
As the RCC does not have a state-of-the-art ICU, most of the patients are treated in the general ward with limited resources for monitoring and intervention. At present, three beds with bedside oxygen portal are segregated for admitting these patients. The MP’s office, which is submitting the projects for clearance from the District Planning Office, has given top priority for the Paediatrics Oncology ICU and proposed to fund the entire cost of the project worth Rs 25 lakh.
Comments
0 comment