Chief minister Tarun Gogoi looks at the modern instruments after the inauguration ceremony on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Nov. 23: The treatment of the critically ill children today received a big boost with chief minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurating the scientifically-renovated paediatric ward at Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital.

The ward has been modernised and renovated on the lines of play school-cum-treatment concept at a cost of Rs 46 lakh.

Besides having all the modern equipment to treat the ailing children, the paediatric unit will have facilities for games, cartoons and educational kits so that a child feels at home and gets well soon.

While expressing his “extreme happiness” by inaugurating the renovated paediatric ward at a public hospital like the MMCH, Gogoi said his government was committed to provide the best possible treatment and care for the children.

The health of the children is linked with the future of society, he said.

“We can expect a better future only when we ensure the physical and the mental well-being of the children. On this occasion, I appeal to the doctors and the nurses of the hospital to give a humane touch while tending to the child patients.”

According to health and family welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, children are generally scared of being admitted to a hospital as hospitalisation leads to emotional stress.

“The basic objective of creating playtime facility at the hospital is to ease the stress and create an atmosphere to make the children feel at home. The 40-bed renovated paediatric unit will have TV sets that will screen the best of cartoon movies round the clock.

“The walls of the ward have been painted with cartoons. There is a separate playroom at the ward where child patients can play various games. The ward will have colouring books and educational toys for children. Psychiatrists and child therapists will also interact with the children during their stay in the hospital to make themselves feel at home as well as recover soon,” Sarma said.

He claimed that none of the private hospital in the city had playtime facility that had been created at the MMCH.

The hospital will henceforth be able to save the lives of many more children, according to Sarma.

He also announced the setting up of a specialised gynaecological wing on the hospital premises soon.

The government had planned to convert the hospital into a special mother and childcare hospital, he said.

The government had already sanctioned funds to set up a sick newborn care unit at the hospital, Sarma said.

Located in Panbazar, the 350-bed MMCH was inaugurated by former President Giani Zail Singh in 1984.

Besides introducing games facilities, the government is also planning to set up a mini library for the child patients.

Sarma said 40 per cent work for setting up of an ICU at the hospital had been completed.