Shocked by the loss of lives of children at Gorkahpur and to provide a deterrence to repeat of such a tragedy in his home district, BJP lok Sabha member Varun Gandhi on Monday pledged Rs 5 crore from his MP development fund to build a state-of-the-art paediatric wing in Sultanpur which “would be functional within six month”.
“Matching grant of Rs 5 crore more, to be raised personally through donations and collections from corporate social responsibility funding”, said Varun showing urgency to set up a model hospital Paediatric wing in Sultanpur as a preemptive measure in the wake of massive Gorakhpur tragedy.
The 37-year-old Parliamentarian said the MPlAD money would be “ functional from today” which would be meant for the construction of the building.
“ The Paediatric wing will be functioning full-swing in six-month from today”, announced the former General Secretary of the BJP in a statement.
The MP said he spoke this morning to the Chief Medical Superintendent, the Chief Medical Officer and the District Magistrate of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
The facility would also include an in-house research centre that would work on matters of child healthcare and prevention of several water and airborne diseases that could affect “these defenceless children”, the MP said in a statement. “Additional donations and collections from CSR funding will be utilized for purchase of equipment’s and laboratories for the wing,” he said.
The wing would also provide free vaccination for children under the National Vaccine Programme. It would also set up a pharmacy within the hospital premises for providing medicines to children at a lower cost.
"An intensive care unit (ICU) consisting of 100 beds will be established to ensure no child goes untreated. The wing would have 24x7 access to water for drinking and sanitation, electricity and oxygen supply," he said, adding, three ambulances would cater specifically to children.
Over 60 children have died at state-run Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College Hospital since August 7, many allegedly for want of oxygen whose supply was disrupted after bills were not paid to the vendor. The Opposition parties have demanded that big heads should roll for the hospital tragedy.
"The human tragedy in Gorakhpur has left me jolted." While grieving the terrible loss of lives of all the children, the incident must "act as an impetus" to take actions that serve as a deterrent to recurrence of such an event,” Varun stated.