Bpr facing oxygen shortage : MSF

    08-May-2021
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Bpr facing oxygen shortag
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 7: COVID-19 patients who have been undergoing treatment at Bishnupur District Hospital and different Covid Care Centres opened under the hospital are now facing a difficult situation due to shortage of medical oxygen.
MSF general secretary Hijam Roshan told The Sangai Express that in the wake of the growing apprehension about shortage of oxygen in the State, they conducted an inspection tour at Bishnupur District Hospital and Manipur Oxygen Plant Private Limited.
Roshan said that there are 21 B-Type oxygen cylinders (10 litres capacity) and 11 D-type oxygen cylinders of capacity 40-60 litres at Bishnupur District Hospital.
Talking with the MSF volunteers, the Bishnupur District Hospital authority said that nine D-type oxygen cylinders and all the 21 B-type oxygen cylinders have been distributed to Covid Care Centres opened under the hospital.
According to the hospital authority, one D-type oxygen cylinder lasts for around three hours while a B-type cylinder lasts for just 30 minutes. A staff going from Bishupur to Patsoi for oxygen refill at around 8 in the morning can come back only at around 9/10 pm, Roshan said quoting hospital authority.
As a result, authorities are facing a very hard time in managing medical oxygen at Bishnupur District Hospital and Covid Care Centres opened under it, he conveyed. The limited availability of oxygen cylinders at Bishnupur District Hospital and CCCs is quite worrisome. If the situation arises where more patients require oxygen cylinders, some patients may lose their lives, Roshan warned.
Apart from shortage of manpower at both Bishupur District Hospital and CCCs, power supply at these centres was quite pathetic, said the MSF general secretary.
Giving an account of their visit to the Manipur Oxygen Plant Private Limited, Roshan said that the staff were seen working day and night manufacturing medical oxygen.
However, the demand placed with the company was too high and it was unable to meet the demands.
Considering the possibility of shortage of live saving medical oxygen in the State, the MSF sought immediate attention of the Government and urged the authorities to do the needful before it is too late.