Oxygen task to force to act on oxygen gas cylinders shortage
By James Macharia
Paying attention to the current shortage of oxygen gas cylinders across the country, Kenya has opted to form a taskforce meant to addressing the same.
This is after hospitals started struggling with the challenge, with some resorting to scale down conducting surgeries due to shortage of oxygen gas cylinders.
Due to the same, the ministry of health has said that it’s addressing the issue in partnership with World Bank and the French Government.
“…we are currently working to address the issues with partners such as the World Bank and the French Government,” the ministry said.
The shortage has been closely attributed to the more than 20,000 gas cylinders lying idle across the state. The taskforce is expected to work round the clock to assess the infrastructure and economies of scale per hospital to address the situation.
The government is also seeking to work on a falling curve of Supply against Demand amid fears and concerns by Kenyans. As per the Ministry of Health, the total production as well as requirement for the industry was around 410 tonnes as of last year, but courtesy of demand, this has significantly skyrocketed to 560 tonnes as at January.
The state is now knocking at a demand of 880 tonnes of oxygen, twice that of last year.
“The demand for oxygen is high because of the Covid-19 but we’re working with partners and suppliers to address the situation,” the ministry stated.
The government has urged individuals holding empty gas cylinders to release them for refilling.
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