A 15-bedded sophisticated Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) was inaugurated at the Maharaja Jitendra Narayan (MJN) Medical College and Hospital here on Thursday.

In Cooch Behar district, this is the first of its kind unit launched for children aged up to 12 years.

Sushanta Roy, the officer on special duty deputed by the state health department in north Bengal, said the facility earlier had a Sick Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU). “It was a level II unit and in case of major complications, children had to be referred to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for treatment. The PICU is a level III unit with sophisticated equipment.”

“The unit has a comprehensive oxygen supply network, along with C-PAP and Bi-Pap machines, an echocardiography unit and other facilities. We will have specialist doctors at the unit round the clock, along with a team of paramedics who are experienced in critical care. It is a major development in terms of health infrastructure in the district,” added Roy.

Pawan Kadyan, the district magistrate, along with Roy and other health officials, inaugurated the unit.

Every year, around 200 children with critical problems are referred outside the district for intensive care.

In another development, an echocardiography machine was installed at the super-specialty hospital in Jalpaiguri on Thursday. “We have requested the state health department to appoint a cardiologist here so that the machine can be utilised properly,” said a doctor.