Lodwar County Referral Hospital’s oxygen supply will be enhanced with a new plant expected to be installed in the coming months.
The plant is a donation, under the Oxygen Ecosystem Activity by USAID informed by the Covid-19 pandemic that is meant to increase the availability of oxygen in the facility.
The 282 litre per minute plant will be expected to serve the referral hospital and refill oxygen tanks for other facilities. There are also plans to do piping to directly supply oxygen to all the referral’s wards and the remaining theatres.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony, health CEC Jane Ajele appreciated the partners for their support and officially handed over the site to the contractor to begin works on the oxygen plant shelter.
“The county government will allocate funds for its sustainability and continued maintenance of the oxygen plant,” she said.
According to Dr Joseph Epem – Director of LCRH, oxygen is categorised as an inhalation medicine and the plant would end hospital’s insufficiencies.
He added that plans were underway to repair the first oxygen plant to boost the oxygen availability in the county.
The partner will also conduct continuous training of nurses and bio-medics to ensure proper use and maintenance of the plant.
Others present were the Deputy Director of LCRH Dr Ekiru Kidalio, LCRH Chief Administrative Officer Simon Loyara Hamton, Johns Hopkins Progamme for International Education in Gynecology and obstetrics (Jhpiego) representatives and a host of county referral hospital staff.
By Peter Gitonga
