Balasore, Aug. 2: A newly constructed maternal and childcare unit will become operational at the district headquarters hospital here next month.

The 100-bed maternal and childcare unit, which has come up under the National Rural Health Mission, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 14.45 crore.

"The six-storey healthcare facility will be open to the public by next month," said chief district medical officer Bhabani Shankar Pani.

"The building is ready and procurement of equipment is being done. We will open the facility as soon as all the necessary equipment are procured and staff, including doctors, nurses and attendants, are appointed," said Pani.

The maternal and childcare unit will cater to various gynaecological and paediatric needs, apart from childbirth. The building will have a special newborn care unit, a kangaroo mother care unit (where premature infants are treated) and other state-of-the-art facilities.

Once the unit starts functioning, the gynaecology department and special newborn care unit from the district headquarters hospital will be shifted to the new building. Hospital sources said that once the gynaecology department moves to the new unit, it would have 53 beds against the present 20.

"The establishment will be equipped with modern facilities," said the district project manager of National Rural Health Mission T. Narayan Rao.