Child rights panel asks Punjab chief secy to set up Covid wards for kids

letterschd@hindustantimes.com SANGRUR The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked chief secretary Vini Mahajan to ensure dedicated Covid-19 facilities are in place for children infected with virus in the state amid a surge in cases of infection.

In a letter to Mahajan, commission chairman Rajinder Singh also recommended a separate child helpline number and intensive care units (ICUs) at sub-divisional level.

“It has come to the commission’s notice that there are no separate dedicated facilities available for children suffering from Covid-19. At present, children infected with the virus are being treated along with adults,” the letter read.

“We also recommend that a separate child helpline number be set up for children uffering from Covid (level-1) and dedicated level -2 and level-3 beds in government and private hospitals. Dedicated intensive care units and neonatal intensive care

We recommend a separate helpline number for infected children and level -2 and level-3 beds in hospitals. RAJINDER SINGH, chairman, Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights

units should be set up in advance in every sub-division and district-level government and private hospitals to fight with the emerging situation,” he added.

A child task force should be constituted at district and sub-divisional level for monitoring of these arrangements and providing psychological support and counseling to infected children, he said. HT recently highlighted that there are no dedicated facilities for children suffering from the coronavirus in Punjab.