The building for the Regional Advanced Paediatric Care Centre (RAPCC), funded by Infosys Foundation, was handed over to the government here on Monday.

In a simple function held at the Centre in Government Wenlock Hospital premises in the City, Vice President of the Foundation Narendran Koduvattat handed over the key to Minister for Medical Education Dr V S Acharya.

Addressing media persons on the occasion, Dr Acharya said that the child and infant mortality rates of Dakshina Kannada is comparable to extremely developed countries and that the setting up of the centre is a great leap in the field of paediatric care in the district. Rs 3 crore has been set apart in the budget for purchasing furniture and necessary equipments, while another Rs 2 crore will be provided for the development of the centre, Dr Acharya said.

The centre will be ready with all facilities in four months time, and will be opened for public on November 14, Children’s Day, he added.

Dr Acharya said that the centre will provide holistic care to children apart from treatment.

District-in-Charge Minister B Nagaraj Shetty hoped that the centre will be a model for the whole country and urged the staff in charge to maintain the quality.

Mr Narendran said that the Foundation was able to finish the work of the centre within the stipulated time and budget and thanked the co-operation from all sections of the society for setting up the centre.

The 150 bed centre will cater to the needs of children from 10 districts in Karnataka and Kerala and has the facility to treat 300 patients in the Out Patient department.

MLAs Yogish Bhat and UT Khader, Deputy Commissioner M Maheshewara Rao, Zilla Panchayat President Sushma Janardhan, Zilla Panchayat CEO A M Kunjappa, KMC Dean Dr C V Raghuveer and Dr Shantaram Baliga were present on the occasion.