By Dominick Rodrigues  

 Mumbai : As many as 6,300 paediatricians responded to the clarion call given by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to medical experts for supporting the state government efforts through tele-ICU for monitoring and treating children’s emotional and mental needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The paediatricians were part of a 52,000-strong group of doctors affiliated with other institutions and associations, besides thousands more viewers who virtually participated in the tele-ICU drive through various online audio-visual platforms recently. The state government has appointed a Paediatricians’ Task Force headed by Dr. Suhas Prabhu and member designates Dr. Vijay Yevle and Dr. Parmanand Aandankar, while experts in the field of child diseases provided advice, guidance and treatment on COVID-19 infections among children. 

Highlighting the second phase of Maharashtra’s focused medical strategy that is currently underway, Thackeray reiterated the government’s efforts to defeat the Corona virus by maintaining a strong and impregnable medical chain of security, avoiding complacency about its infection potential and ensuring timely medical attention for children. 

Lauding the efforts of all doctors, state health machinery, people from all parties supporting the government and common folk in the state’s social campaign +My Family (Is) My Responsibility+, Thackeray emphasized collectively forming +unbreakable human links+ to break the deadly virus chain, whose attacks witnessed first elders, then youth being affected – with potential of children  being infected in the third wave. 

Warning that the COVID-19 contagion threat has not been fully neutralized, he said the pandemic’s second wave highlighted shortages in supply and availability of oxygen and other medical components. The state government is ramping up medical facilities including procurement of 12 crore vaccines for the 18-44 years age group through single-payment mechanism, he said, adding that vaccine availability after June is being streamlined for Maharashtra’s population. 

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 Task Force here highlighted the battle against contagion, breastfeeding by infected mothers, role of Anganwadi workers to identify infections among children, +discouraging CT scans as a normal course of treatment for children+, treating children who are infected yet asymptomatic or diabetic, their diet, keeping senior family members quarantined from infected children, usage of masks, hand washing and so on.