Dowa Hospital gets PPE, Oxygen

There is Hope, a non-governmental organisation, has donated 10 filled gas cylinders, 10 oxygen regulators and face masks worth K5.8 million to Dowa District Hospital.

The gesture is meant to support government’s efforts in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

The donation comes after calls from the hospital that they were running out of gas cylinders for Covd-19 patients.

Speaking during the handover on Thursday, Dowa District director of health and social services Peter Makoza said they had short supply of gas cylinders.

He said: “Before the donation, the hospital had two gas cylinders. However, one Covid-19 patient requires three oxygen cylinders per day.

“We had to go to Lilongwe to refill the gas cylinders, incurring costs on transport and losing time in the process.”

There is Hope deputy executive director Cathreen Ndege-Chirwa said they assisted the hospital because it is a referral facility that also serves refugees from Dzaleka Refugee Camp.

“This is not the first time we have assisted in Covid-19 response. We have been distributing reusable masks, buckets and soap to health facilities in the district,” she said.

There is Hope is a local organisation empowering refugees at Dzaleka Refugee Camp and surrounding communities in Dowa.

There is panic in district hospitals nationwide over a shortage of oxygen cylinders amid growing numbers of patients being treated as inpatients for Covid-19 and requiring medical oxygen boost.