Several west UP dists still face O2 shortage
LUCKNOW: The oxygen crisis in the state capital and some other areas may have subsided briefly with arrival of the life-saving gas from Bokaro on Saturday, but several districts, particularly those in western UP, continue to reel under acute shortage with little possibility of getting their stocks replenished any time soon.
The Covid Command Control Centre in Shahjahanpur has had more than a dozen inquiries about availability for oxygen. According to administrative officials, LMO is finished in the district and the health infrastructure is left with medical oxygen that wouldn’t last more than 24 hours.
In Badaun, the largest district in Rohilkhand region, the supplier of medical oxygen told the authorities on Wednesday that the stock of LMO had finished. Since then, the authorities have failed to arrange it, leaving the health infrastructure dependent on less than 70 jumbo oxygen cylinder most have which became empty by Saturday. Chief medical officer (CMO) of Badaun Yashpal Singh has demanded details about stock of oxygen cylinder left in community and primary health centres. “We are making all efforts to consolidate medical oxygen supply in the district. We have already intimated authorities in Lucknow about the shortage and are waiting for fresh supply of LMO.”
health and administrative officials in Pilibhit are also battling a crisis, with little medical oxygen left in the district to cater to Covid-19 patients. All are waiting for fresh supplies of LMO or medical oxygen. In Moradabad less than 1000 kg of LMO is left in the district which will last till Sunday morning. Authorities are trying to get more oxygen.
In Bareilly district, that recorded 1221 new Covid-19 cases in Friday, the private oxygen suppliers closed down since Wednesday due to no availability of LMO. The government health infrastructure is managing with whatever is left. This too needs urgent replenishment.
In Rae Bareli district adjoining Lucknow, the liquid medical oxygen (LMO) used to make medical oxygen got exhausted on Thursday and was not replenished till Saturday. The health administration of the district is currently managing with the a few jumbo oxygen cylinders left in stock which, according to hospital sources, will not last more than 24 hours.
Vaibhav Srivastav, district magistrate of Rae Bareli said, “We have sent a demand for LMO used to make medical oxygen for the district. We are hopeful that we will get it at the earliest.” In nearby Barabanki district, the biggest medical oxygen manufacturing unit has been closed since Tuesday after the LMO finished.
This has led to shortage of oxygen in the city, primarily affecting the private hospitals and those who are managing their Covid-19 patients at home. At the district hospital in Hardoi, a few oxygen cylinders in the emergency were catering to patients.
Acting chief medical superintendent of the hospital Pankaj Mishra said, “An oxygen plant at the district hospital is defunct because its pipes were damaged during construction work. We are using the oxygen tanks in the stock and have written to the government to make arrangements at the earliest.”