Date:17/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071750520100.htm

Front Page

Burns-cum-emergency ward opened

Special Correspondent

At Kumbakonam Government Hospital
With contribution from ONGC

KUMBAKONAM: An air-conditioned burns-cum-emergency ward with 40 beds was inaugurated at the Government Hospital here on Monday.

The ward, constructed with the contribution of Rs.21.40 lakh by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, was declared open by Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Sports and Youth Welfare Mani Shankar Aiyer in the presence of Cooperation Minister Ko. Si. Mani.

The ONGC helped in constructing the ward following a request made by Mr. Aiyer, when he was the Union Petroleum Minister, soon after the Krishna School fire accident here in which 94 children were charred to death on July 16, 2004.

Coinciding with the third anniversary of the accident, the ward was declared open.

Mr. Aiyer said that the Kumbakonam Government Hospital was not well equipped to save the children with burns at the time of the accident.

However, with the available facilities, the hospital saved 18 children, who suffered severe burns.

According to the doctors, another 50 children could have been saved, if the hospital had possessed better facilities, he pointed out.

“The facilities now available in the new burns ward are equal to that of private hospitals. Similar burns-cum-emergency wards will come up at Mayiladuthurai and Sirkali, thanks to ONGC.”

The Director (onshore), ONGC, A.K. Hasarika, said that the ONGC took up the construction of the ward under its corporate citizenship policy and its socio-economic development programmes.

The foundation was laid on January 28, 2006 and the work was completed with the help of the District Rural Development Agency.

The Director of Health, Bava Fakrudeen, said that under the Tamil Nadu health system, a World Bank scheme, additional buildings would be constructed in 13 hospitals in Thanjavur district at a cost of Rs. 9.30 crore.