KABALE COVID 19 PATIENTS STRUGGLE FOR THEIR LIVES AS OXYGEN CYLINDERS LIE IDLE OVER LACK OF GAS FLOW METERS

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabale—

COVID 19 patients at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital are facing it rough due to lack of enough fully functional oxygen cylinders.

Currently, 96 COVID-19 patients are admitted at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital. Ten of them are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit.

However, the hospital cannot manage the ICU cases properly because some of the Oxygen cylinders lack gas flow meters which regulate the flow of oxygen and comprises a pressure gauge, safety valve, and flow tube and humidification bottle among others.

Paddy Mwesigye, the Kabale district Assistant Health Officer in charge of Child and Maternal Health confirmed that most of the oxygen cylinders are now lying idle due to the lack of gas flow meters.

According to Mwesigye, they need over 100 gas flow meters to be on the safe side.

Mwesigye said that what angers him most is that despite the oxygen crisis at the hospital, many residents are still hesitant to practice the COVID-19 preventive measures.

Alfred Besigensi, the Kabale District Health Officer, revealed that the task force together with hospital management has already informed the Ministry of Health about the problem.

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