A technologically advanced special new born care unit (SNCU), for infants requiring critical medical attention, was inaugurated at the government-run autonomous Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Science (VIMS) hospital here on Tuesday.
The SNCU has been set up by JSW Foundation which takes care of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of JSW Steel Limited, a mega-integrated steel plant in Toranagal. This SNCU, with technical guidance from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is the largest in the country. A sum of Rs. 1.02 crore, RS. 41 lakhs for equipments and Rs. 61 lakhs for civil works, spent by JSW Foundation as per the specifications given by the UNICEF, to meet the latest global standards.
The unit is equipped with 32 warmers, six ventilators, four Central Processing Accessory Units, ten each of Multi-para monitor and pulse oxymeters. There are two sections to admit children born in the hospital and those coming from outside to prevent sepsis. The facility provided has expanded the scope for admission and neonates’ capacity to 250 from 150 per month.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. C.S.Kedar, Chief Executive Officer of JSW Foundation, said that, “JSW Foundation’s commitment towards ensuring 360 degree maternal and neonatal care is unflinching. JSW has strenuously taken up the task of providing state-of-the-art health care facilities to pregnant and lactating women under its ‘janam se janani tak – JSW aapke sath’ mission”.
Prosun Sen, from UNICEF, while complimenting JSW Foundation for its initiative, said that the infants in Ballari will now have access to the highest level of medical attention as in any other developed nation in the world. The facility will impact significantly on arresting the neonatal deaths – in the first critical 28 days of life, besides decreasing the neonatal deaths.
Dr. Srinivas, Director VIMS, Dr. Vidyadhar Kinhal, Principal, Dr. Srinivasulu, Hospital Superintendent, Sameer Shukla, Deputy Commissioner, R. Chetan, Superintendent of Police, Manjunath Prabhu, M.R. M. Warrier were among other senior executives of JSW present.
