Meenakshi Super Speciality Hospital, Madurai, in association with Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, and The Indian College of Emergency Medicine (TICEM), organised a two-day National Symposium on Paediatric Emergency Care on June 12 and 13, 2026, to promote timely recognition and effective management of paediatric emergencies and to enhance the knowledge and practical skills of health care professionals involved in the care of critically ill and injured children.
The symposium was inaugurated by Mr. P. Akash, I.A.S., District Collector, Madurai, and brought together more than 200 healthcare professionals and students, including staff nurses, nursing students, paramedics, paramedical students, emergency medicine residents, emergency physicians, Pediatrician & Pediatric resistant and Other doctors.
The event was conducted under the leadership of Dr. S. Gurushankar, Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre, and guided by Dr. Ramesh Ardhanari, Medical Director, Dr. B. Kannan, Medical Administrator, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre, and Dr. Narendra Nath Jena, Director & Head, Institute of Emergency Medicine, who served as the Organising Chairman.
The scientific programme featured presentations and discussions by eminent paediatricians and emergency medicine experts, including Prof. Dr. Debasis Das Adhikari and Dr. Murugan T. P. of Christian Medical College, Vellore, Dr. Sudip Dutta of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences; and Dr. A. Kannan, Dr. Uma, and Dr. S. Senthil Kumar of Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre, covering a broad spectrum of paediatric emergency care.
In addition to expert lectures, the symposium included evidence-based updates, interactive case discussions, and hands-on simulation sessions addressing the assessment of critically ill children, sepsis, respiratory emergencies, trauma, poisoning, neurotrauma, neonatal emergencies, and emergency resuscitation. The programme provided participants with valuable opportunities to strengthen their clinical knowledge, enhance practical skills through simulation-based learning, and engage in multidisciplinary discussions.
In his inaugural address, Mr. P. Akash, I.A.S., District Collector, Madurai, emphasised that both government and private hospitals are integral components of the healthcare system and that collaborative efforts between them are essential to reduce mortality and morbidity. He appreciated the initiative taken by Meenakshi Super Speciality Hospital in organising the National Symposium on Paediatric Emergency Care and noted that such academic programmes play a vital role in strengthening the knowledge, clinical skills, and practical competencies of healthcare professionals. He further stated that continuous training and regular updates in evidence-based practices are crucial for improving the quality of patient care and achieving better health outcomes for children.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Narendra Nath Jena said: “The symposium was a unique academic initiative dedicated exclusively to paediatric emergency and trauma care. Through expert lectures, case-based discussions, and hands-on simulation training in areas such as septic shock, respiratory emergencies, paediatric trauma, poisoning, and neurotrauma, it helped strengthen the knowledge, clinical skills, and emergency preparedness of healthcare professionals caring for critically ill and injured children.”
Highlighting the global burden of childhood mortality, Dr. Jena noted that nearly 4.9 million children under five years of age died worldwide in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns.many from preventable and treatable conditions. Although India has made significant progress in reducing under-five mortality, Most of these deaths were preventable through proven, low-cost interventions and access to quality healthcare with a substantial proportion linked to prematurity, birth asphyxia, infections, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, and malnutrition.
He further emphasised that continued strengthening of paediatric emergency care services, immunisation programmes, nutritional support, and equitable access to quality healthcare are essential to further reduce preventable childhood deaths. Early recognition of serious illness and timely evidence-based treatment remain critical to improving survival, reducing complications, and preventing long-term disability among children.
Referring to recent developments in the specialty, Dr. Jena highlighted advances that have significantly improved the speed, precision, and effectiveness of paediatric emergency care. These include Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy, advanced non-invasive ventilation techniques, video laryngoscopy, ultrasound-guided vascular access, and standardised sepsis management protocols.
The Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine at Meenakshi Super Speciality Hospital, Madurai, provides comprehensive 24×7 multidisciplinary emergency care for children. Supported by experienced specialists and advanced critical care infrastructure, the department offers expert management of paediatric and neonatal emergencies, trauma, burns, poisoning, severe infections, and surgical emergencies, with seamless access to a full range of paediatric super-specialty services. The institution also provides multidisciplinary care in reconstructive and plastic surgery, cleft lip and palate management under Smile Train-supported initiatives, accident and trauma care, burn management, infection control, and bone marrow transplantation services, ensuring comprehensive treatment for children with complex medical and surgical conditions.