KATHMANDU, Feb 2: Agni Foundation, the non-profit organization of Agni Group, has provided financial and other support to renovate the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of TU Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj.

The renovated pediatric department was jointly inaugurated by vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University, Dr Dharma Kanta Baskota, managing director of Agni Group, Cabinet Shrestha, and executive director of Agni Group and Founder of Agni Foundation, Susan Vaidya Shrestha on Thursday.

Agni Group is the sole authorized distributor of Mahindra vehicles in Nepal. Agni Foundation works to promote diverse sectors like health, education, sports, disaster recovery management and has been working in association with government organizations.

Addressing the inauguration function, executive director of Agni Group, Susan Vaidya Shrestha said the NICU plays a significant role for preterm infants and for the babies with low birth weight or with a health condition that needs special care.

“Staying around the clock with a child who is in the PICU for more than a few days can be both physically and emotionally draining. 

But facilities, proper care and medication, with a positive ambience of the PICU can help ease the family's stress,” she said.

According to Prof Dr Laxman Shrestha, who heads the Department of Pediatrics at the hospital, NICU is a specialized unit created for sick and premature newborns while PICU is an area within a hospital specializing in the care of critically ill infants, children, and teenagers. 

“We have qualified staffers and equipment that will support both child and parents and reassure intensive level of monitoring, therapy, and/or nursing care to the needy child throughout their NICU and PICU stay,” he said.

In addition to the renovation of the infrastructures of PICU and NICU, Agni Foundation has also constructed a lounge for visitors and parents of admitted children under the name “Agni Wing”, according to a press statement issued by Agni Foundation.  

“The Foundation has also focused on creating a “breastfeeding station” and a “resting station” for the parents of the admitted children to promote family-centered care by allowing parents especially mothers and caregivers to stay overnight as well,” the statement said.

 
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