Oxygen production at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital increased

May 08, 2022

Globally and in Uganda, the oxygen demand sharply increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, far exceeding the capacity of oxygen generated in many referral hospitals.

Officials from the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and FCDO inside the oxygen plant after a tour provided by the Hospital.

Jacky Achan
Journalist @New Vision

HEALTH | OXYGEN | KAYUNGA HOSPITAL 

The oxygen-producing capacity of Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital, and other lower-level facilities in seven neighbouring districts has been boosted to 140 cylinders daily. 

The UK government, through UNICEF, has procured and unveiled an Oxygen Plant for the 200-bed facility and those neighbouring it. 

“The plant being commissioned today is just one example of the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting and strengthening health systems across Uganda, helping to save lives and guarantee Uganda’s health security” Andrew Ockenden the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Director for British High Commission Kampala said on unveiling the plant on May 5, 2022. 

Globally and in Uganda, the oxygen demand sharply increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, far exceeding the capacity of oxygen generated in many referral hospitals. 

According to reports, Uganda had the capacity to fill 3,000 oxygen cylinders per day but was expected to produce 25,000 cylinders a day around June-July last year with a surge in COVID-19 cases. 

The scarcity led to loss of lives of critically ill patients who depended on oxygen therapy daily to stay alive. 

In addition, oxygen remained a critical treatment for small and sick new-born, children with severe pneumonia and other life-threatening respiratory diseases common among children under five years and mothers with delivery complications. 

The UNICEF Representative in Uganda, Munir Safieldin said during the COVID-19 pandemic, the immediate availability of medical oxygen became the defining line between life and death in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs).  

He says the oxygen plants and oxygen cylinders supplied during the pandemic were also critical in saving lives of thousands of small and sick babies with breathing difficulties throughout the year.  

Along with the plant, the UK government also supported the procurement of oxygen delivery equipment that includes 100 Oxygen cylinders, 40 oxygen concentrators, over 15,000 face masks and oxygen masks for adults and children for distribution to Soroti, Kayunga, Kabale and Masaka Regional Referral Hospitals. 

An additional seven health facilities benefitted from oxygen cylinder refills and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including surgical masks, aprons, hand sanitizers and liquid soap to support Infection Prevention and Control efforts, thereby guaranteeing the safe delivery of health care during the pandemic and beyond. 

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF has been working tirelessly to expand access to life-saving oxygen. 

To date, UNICEF has supported a total of three oxygen plants that have been procured and installed in Soroti, Kabale and Masaka regional referral hospitals. 

The additional oxygen plant in Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital will sustain the hospital oxygen needs as well as cater to those of other health facilities in seven neighbouring districts of Buikwe, Jinja, Kayunga, Kamuli, Luwero, Mukono and Nakasongola through production of up to 140 cylinders daily. 

To fully optimize the use of the new oxygen plant, with support from the UK Government, UNICEF is currently installing an oxygen piping system to support distribution and continuous flow of oxygen to critical areas like the paediatric, neonatal, maternity, post-natal and medical wards as well as the operating theatre within Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital.  

“Now is the time to build back better,” the UNICEF Representative in Uganda says.

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