Covid affects around 11 pc kids in N Bengal: critical care experts of the pediatric department from Kolkata will impart training to pediatricians and nursing staff in north Bengal districts

SNS, SILIGURI. 17JULY 21 : Around 10-11 percent of the total children have been infected with Covid-19 in north Bengal presently, public health experts studying the trend have observed ahead of the possible third wave, which is said to hit children the most. The health department is ramping up the infrastructure.

According to the officer on special duty for public health in north Bengal, Dr Susanta Kumar Roy, they had observed that around 10-11 percent of children had been infected with the disease in the region.

"At one stage, around 21 percent of children had been affected by Covid-19 in North Bengal. Now, we have studied that the present infection rate of children is around10-11 percent in north Bengal," Dr Roy said. He said critical care experts of the pediatric department from Kolkata will impart training to pediatricians and nursing staff working in child care units and paediatric Intensive care units in north Bengal districts.

"We want to complete the training within July. The training is likely to be conducted by dividing the eight districts in two phases," Dr Roy said.

Concerned about the static Covid infection rate of Darjeeling district, he has called a meeting on Monday.

"We will hold the meeting with the health department and administrative officers of both Darjeeling and Kalimpong in Siliguri on Monday to review the situation and draw up plans to contain the infection," Dr Roy said.

Meanwhile, Dr Roy gas requested NBMCH principal Prof Indrajit Saha to increase vaccination sites.

"I have seen that people are standing in the queues amid the rains. That prompted me to request him to increase the number of vaccination sites at the NBMCH. He has assured me that he would look into the issue," he said.

At present, two vaccination centres are functional at the NBMCH, while it is learnt that three more sites can be set up there.