Patients requiring oxygen at J.M Kariuki memorial hospital in Nyandarua can now be served concurrently after the Nyandarua County government modified the oxygen supply system at the hospital.
Initially, patients at the facility were being served straight from a cylinder which was limited in times of crisis since this was only used by one person at a time.
The modification involved installing of an oxygen gas manifold, thus increasing the hospital’s capacity to handle people with critical respiratory conditions.
While unveiling the new oxygen system, Deputy Governor John Mwangi Mathara said the new system will enable the referral hospital to serve the residents and patients from neighbouring counties since medical oxygen is critical in the treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients.
“Oxygen was in 2019 classified under the Kenya Essential Medicines List as an essential medicine for the treatment of low oxygen levels in the blood.
World Health Organization in 2017 recognized oxygen as one of the six inhalational medicines that should be available from the dispensary level,” said Mathara.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Zachary Gichuki, in remarks delivered on his behalf by the Public Service, Administration and Devolution executive, Paul Wanjau, noted that today’s investment allows for 10 patients to be put on oxygen support concurrently via a four-cylinder manifold.
The project is a collaboration between the County government, the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation, the Rotary Club of Hurlingham and Rotary club of Taree-Australia.
It is aimed at improving oxygen delivery at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.
By Antony Mwangi
