By MariatuTamba
FREETOWN, June 3 (232news.com) – World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday 30thMay 2022 handed over 900 Oxygen Cylinders to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, at WHO Country’s Office in Freetown.
During the handling over ceremony, WHO Representative Dr. Steven Shongwe said the current Covid-19 Pandemic has exposed huge gaps in the Sierra Leone health system’s ability to respond adequately and in particular the provision of life saving medical oxygen.
He furthered that the health system has not had adequate capacity to meet the regular demand for medical oxygen in health facilities. He continued that high demand for oxygen during the peak of Covid-19 admissions added a burden on the already stretched Oxygen Management system.
He maintained that Oxygen cylinders were identified as a critical need, and WHO mobilized resources to meet this gap, culminating today on the handover of 900 Oxygen Cylinders.
He noted that in 2021 MoHS had only three Oxygen plants in Koidu Government Hospital, and the one in Connaught Hospital has been repaired but is old, the one in 34 Military Hospital was an old plant temporarily assembled as an immediate response to Covid-19 in 2020 supported by WHO, however it is now non-functional and the PSA is beyond repair. He said with support from the foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and Islamic Development Bank(IsDB) through UNICEF, three new Oxygen (PSA) plants were recently procured and have been installed at Makeni (FCDO), Kenema (IsDB) and Bo (IsDB) regional hospitals, awaiting final completion to for use. He furthered that three Oxygen plant are expected to be delivered and installed to Sierra Leone with Global Fund support.
He concluded that the total cost of the oxygen cylinders and accessories is US$221,400 which equivalent to Le 2,811, 780.00.
The Deputy Minister of Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Madam Princess Dugba said Oxygen provision remains a key component in the package of care for patients, and this is what MoHS is addressing. She continued that thus the donation of Oxygen Cylinders demonstrates WHO’s on-going commitment to support the Ministry in not only responding to Covid-19 but also strengthening their health care service delivery toward improved patient outcomes reducing maternal and child deaths, supporting UHC, and the country’s preparedness and response to any future outbreaks. She noted that three containerized Oxygen generator PSA plants are being installed and almost ready for commissioning in their Regional Hospitals in Bo, Kenema, and Makeni.
She continued that the Global fund has provided funding to procure three plants for the 34 Military hospital, the Ola During Children’s and PCMH hospitals and the Port Loko Regional hospital. She maintained that they have also received funding to procure four plants for the Jui Friendship hospital, the Kabala Government Hospital, the Pujehun Government Hospital, and the Kailahun Government Hospital. She thanked WHO country Rep, Dr Steven Shongwe, Dr James Bunn and the rest of WHO Sierra Leone Country Management for the continued support of the MOHS, and they will continue to count on them as a strategic and dependable partner. Handing over of the Oxygen Cylinders climaxed the occasion.
