Oxygen crisis has hit Soroti Regional Referral Hospital the only treatment centre for all Covid-19 patients in Teso Sub-region.
The shortages are according to Dr Michael Mwanga, the hospital director, due to the surge in Covid-19.
“COVID-19 cases upsurge has led to an acute shortage of oxygen needed for management of patients under intensive care treatment,” Dr.Mwanga said.
He disclosed that the hospital has over the last two weeks reported a surge in cases, especially those in critical condition leaving 10 patients dead.
Soroti referral hospital oxygen plant generate 30 cylinders per day limited to the number of cases being handled by the healthworkers at hospital.
Dr. Mwanga slso noted laxity in reporting of COVID-19 community cases something that has caused more deaths.
“Majority of those who have died were brought or confirmed positive for Covid-19 at advanced stages, making it hard for them to recuperate even when medical doctors put in a lot of effort,” he explained. “They come late to the hospital, when they are too weak and the concentration of blood is too low,” he said.
Due to oxygen inadequacies, some patients in the intensive care unit had to be evacuated to Kampala.
The hospital however expect to receive a supply of additional 30 more oxygen cylinders from Kyambogo university on a daily basis.
Reliable sources said the hospital through Ministry of Health entered into an understanding with Kyambogo University, which will see the latter supply an additional 30 oxygen cylinders per day to the health facility.
The cylinders will be picked after every two days from Kyambogo, with the hospital expected to foot the transport costs.
The hospital management has further reduced on the food rations for the Covid-19 patients. Unlike in the recent past when patients were served four meals per day to improve their immunity, some of the patients who talked to this reporter expressed that the meals have now been cut to only two rations.
Dr. Mwanga admitted to the reduction of meal rations by management saying that they no longer afford to feed patients. He said if the conditions persist, even one mesl will be stopped.
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