Apollo Cradle, one of the country's leading hospital network for Women and Children, on Wednesday announced the opening of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), providing high level of intensive care to critically ill children with advanced technologies and 24/7 back up of super specialists.

The National Family Health Survey results released recently shows how far the states in India are lagging behind in achieving the infant mortality rate target set by the Centre of 28 deaths per 1,000 live births, by 2019. The doctors claim that the total under five mortality rate in Telangana is at 32 and to combat this, the PICU was launched and will be expanding it to 5 more in due course, said Mr Neeraj Garg, CEO, Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd on the occasion.

During the launching ceremony, Dr C Suresh Kumar, Head, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Apollo Cradle said, “We launched the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to ease infants and children with critical diseases. Our team offers round-the-clock care by super specialists to ensure that the patients have the best possible care available to them.” We are extending our world-class care from Maternity and Neonatology care to Paediatric care services.

Dr Ajay Gangoli, Director Medical Services, Apollo Health & Lifestyle Ltd. said “Apollo Cradle has built a reputation for clinical excellence, and has the capability to handle high-risk pregnancies, complex pre-term babies & critically ill children & infants. The launch of the PICU shall provide state-of-art care for children with life-threatening medical and surgical conditions.

Dr Sharmila Kaza, Consultant Paediatrician, Apollo Cradle, said, PICU addresses the needs of children from six months to twelve years, while Neonatology ICU takes care of just born infants till they are six months old. At the PICU the patient is stabilised first, the problem is diagnosed and treated by a group of multi-specialists.