Mzuzu Central Hospital says it needs an oxygen plant as a long-term solution to oxygen challenges the facility is facing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, the hospital spends K62 000 on each oxygen cylinder. The hospital uses about 15 oxygen cylinders in its intensive care unit and other wards every day.
Speaking during the hand over of 32 oxygen cylinders by Chancellor Colleges Mzuzu Corner alumni, the hospital’s chief medical officer John Chipolombwe said procuring oxygen is costly; hence, the need to install the oxygen plant.
He said oxygen consumption increased when Covid-19 cases were at their peak as one patient needed two cylinders of oxygen per day. The hospital admitted 42 Covid-19 cases.
“Oxygen is in high demand at the isolation centre because Covid-19 is a severe acute respiratory infection,” said Chipolombwe.
Speaking on behalf of Chancellor College Mzuzu Corner alumni group, Mbawaka Mwakhwawa said his team was responding to a call by the hospital on the need for oxygen.
“We mobilised about K2 million to procure 32 oxygen cylinders,” he said.
In their Covid-19 response, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust installed an oxygen plant, which produces over a million litres of oxygen a day for Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre and other facilities in the Southern Region.
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