STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: A team of Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) visited Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Nagaon districts to review the situation of COVID affected children.
The team comprising ASCPCR chairperson Dr Sunita Changkakati and member Rupa Hazarika visited the districts from June 30 to July 2.
The team interacted with the Principal and Superintendent of Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh, the Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare, the Nodal officer for COVID-affected children, paediatrician etc. and reviewed the present status of the children.
The team also interacted with the Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh. They had a similar interaction in the Jorhat District and had a meeting with the DC and Joint Director, Health and Family Welfare in Nagaon district. After taking stock of the situation of children in COVID Care Centers and hospitals, the team of ASCPCR recommended that the number of ICUs for children should be increased in the districts considering the increased number of COVID positive children.
The Commission has also submitted the following recommendations to the Health and Family Welfare Minister –
* Child-friendly ward for COVID-positive children with the arrangement of accommodation for the child's mother or caretaker.
* Separate wards for COVID-positive pregnant women and arrangement of separate delivery room for them.
* Friendly arrangements for COVID-positive special children by using adaptive beds, toilets and other requisites along with provisions for psychological counselling so that the children who are admitted in hospitals can seek mental health support when required.
* Steps should also be taken to ensure that the children who are hospitalized are provided with nutritious food and medicines.
* Counseling services should also be provided to mothers, caretakers of children who may be staying with the child admitted in the hospital.
* Setting up of pediatric COVID ICUs in all districts.