The initiative will help to address the gap of the long waiting list of patients due to non-availability of ventilators in the city
On the occasion of the 5th birthday of conjoined twins Riddhi-Siddhi, Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital (BJWHC) added 20 ventilators in the NICU. The addition of ventilators makes BJWHC the largest paediatric hospital in Asia having 70 standalone ventilator beds. This is expected to address the gap of the long waiting list of patients due to non-availability of ventilators in the city.
Ness Wadia, MD, Wadia Group said, “This is yet another step towards our commitment to the cause of providing affordable and quality healthcare to the vulnerable section of the society. Children dependent on mechanical ventilation are a vulnerable population by virtue of their chronic disability and our aim is to address the increased risk of such health disparities and access barriers. I would also take the opportunity to wish the two adorable angels – Riddhi & Siddhi – a long and healthy life and pray that they face all new challenges and opportunities in life both with courage and faith.”
Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO, Wadia Hospitals said, “Despite being the largest NICU care facility in the world we cope with the challenges due to lack of ventilators. Sick babies are received from all over Maharashtra and many other states for critical care treatment. In the current scenario of paediatric care in Mumbai, the corporation has three super-speciality hospitals, five speciality hospitals and 16 secondary-level hospitals, which has approximately 1,000 intensive care unit beds. Of these only 457 beds having ventilators.
She further added, “Apart from public and charitable hospitals, about three to four hospitals cater to the same cause, but all of them are private partners and charge exorbitant fees, which is beyond the reach of the common man. Hence, the addition of ventilator beds, is expected to reduce the waiting list of the intensive care department and enable us to save many more lives which require urgent intensive care treatment at affordable cost.”