Lodwar County Referral Hospital’s oxygen supply will be increased with a new US-funded plant to be installed in coming months.
The contractor has just started works.
The plant is funded by USAID under its Oxygen Ecosystem programme that arose during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many Covid patients have low blood oxygen, suffer breathing problems and need oxygen.
The 282-litre per minute plant will serve the referral hospital and refill oxygen tanks for other facilities. The hospital plans to pipe oxygen directly to all wards and theatres.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Health CEC Jane Ajele thanked partners for their support. She turned over the site so the contractor can begin works on the structure housing the plant.
“The county government will allocate funds for its sustainability and continued maintenance of the oxygen plant,” she said.
Hospital director Dr Joseph Epem said oxygen is considered an inhalation medicine.
He said the first oxygen plant was being repaired to increase availability of oxygen in the county.
US development partners will continuously train nurses and biomedics to ensure proper use and maintenance of the plant.
Present at the groundbreaking were LCRH deputy director Dr Ekiru Kidalio, chief administrative officer Simon Loyara Hampton, representatives of the Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics and hospital staff.
(Edited by V. Graham)
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”
