New paediatric ward soon to be opened by BMC at Sewri TB hospital

According to reports, nearly four years after discontinuing admissions for paediatric patients, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to create a dedicated paediatric ward at Sewri TB hospital, which is the largest TB hospital in Asia. The hospital receives patients from all over the state, and approximately 10% of the city’s TB cases involve paediatric patients. However, in 2018, the hospital stopped admitting paediatric patients and only accepted referred patients from Mumbai. As a result, patients who were not referred had to go to the government-run JJ hospital, leading to daily harassment of patients in need.

Current Situation

After the Indian Express brought attention to the situation in November 2022, the BMC has decided to build a dedicated paediatric ward with 20 beds. The construction of the ward is almost complete, and according to Dr Daksha Shah, deputy executive health officer (BMC), the design of the unit in a child-friendly manner will take a few more months to complete. The BMC also intends to hire paediatric doctors to provide specialised care for the children.

Ganesh Acharya, a TB patient and an activist who voiced the need for a paediatric ward at the hospital, expressed how he frequently received calls from patients' relatives about the unavailability of beds for their children. He said, “Though the number of paediatric patients is quite high in Mumbai, the availability of beds is limited. We have been raising the issue for over four-five years.”

Impact of the Pandemic

In 2021, a total of 5,446 children were diagnosed with TB, the highest number in the past five years. According to Dr Bela Verma, head of the paediatric unit at JJ hospital, the pandemic played a role in this increase. Schools were closed, and children were not allowed to go out, making them more susceptible to the infection in families with active TB patients. As a result, there are more paediatric TB patients after the pandemic.

Also Read: 44 children regained hearing ability at Nair Hospital

The creation of a dedicated paediatric ward at Sewri TB hospital will help alleviate the difficulties faced by paediatric patients in the region. The BMC’s decision to hire paediatric doctors will ensure that the children receive specialised care. The new ward will also help accommodate the growing number of paediatric TB cases in the city, especially after the pandemic.