Work on first government critical care block for tribals in Vellore nearing completion

Work on the first Critical Care Block (CCB) facility at Government Taluk Hospitals in Vellore, Arakkonam and Sriperumbudur towns is on a fast track, with around 90% of the total work being completed. Final phase of the works like painting, tile laying and electricals are being done.

Spread over 5,000 sq.ft, the single-storey facility will be a 50-bedded block with separate wards for maternity, newborn care and in-patients. It will also have an intensive care unit, an X-ray and scanning facilities. Three surgical theatres with ultrasound units will also be a part of the facility. The new facility will also treat patients for burn injuries, snake bites and cardiac problems.

The new facility, which costs ₹23.75 crore, also has a spacious out-patient ward with seating arrangements for 100 people. At present, the Government Taluk Hospital, which has 60 beds, gets 800-900 out-patients every day. The hospital provides only general treatment, with most of the cases being referred to the Government Medical College Hospital.

Work under way at the first critical care block facility at Government Taluk Hospitals in Vellore.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), which executes the multi-crore work, said that the aim of the new facility is to provide timely treatment for accident victims and tribals. Such facilities are being set up near highways and tribal areas to ensure victims are attended to on time. “As per a plan, each district in Tamil Nadu should have such a facility to treat accident victims. The new facility in these towns will be ready by February,” S. Nagaraj, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), PWD (Vellore), told The Hindu.

In Vellore, the project is being monitored by Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi and K. Sudalaimuthu, Executive Engineer (EE), PWD (Vellore). The new facility is being built at Government Taluk Hospital in Anaicut at the foothills of Jawadhu Hills.

“Many times, we trek several kilometres to treat snake bite victims at the nearest hospital. Our decade-long demand for such a facility has been fulfilled,” said G. Sadaiyan, a tribal.

The hospital is a lifeline for at least 38 villages including tribal hamlets in the hills, covering a population of around three lakh persons. Residents have to depend on the taluk hospital as the region does not have private hospitals and clinics.

“Currently, accident and snake bite victims in these tribal areas get treated at the Government Medical College Hospital, around 20 km away from the hills. The new CCB will end their ordeal as the facility is located at the centre of these villages,” said Dr. N. Singaravelan, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Government Taluk Hospital (Anaicut).

Health officials said that a similar facility is being built at Government Taluk Hospital in Arakkonam and Sriperumbudur, as these towns are located near accident prone stretches like Old Madras Road and Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH-48).