COVID-19 patients rely on charity groups for oxygen

August 13, 2021

HURFOM: Throughout the third wave of COVID-19, oxygen has played a key role in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, but the military junta cannot provide the oxygen that is desperately needed.

They are also controlling the production of medical grade oxygen, and its distribution.

Availability of oxygen is very limited right now, most patients have to rely on the charity or emergency rescue teams for medical grade oxygen.

Even though the number of the COVID-19 patients in hospitals and quarantine centers has seen a modest decline, the need of oxygen is still high, according to local charity groups.

“Oxygen is still in high demand. The number of patients has decreased a little but the hospitals don’t have enough oxygen. So we have to find it outside. Mostly, we, charity groups, have to work on finding oxygen for the patients,” said a member of a charity group in Mawlamyine.

The need of oxygen is so high that a 40-L oxygen cylinder which was priced at under 100,000 Kyat before is now priced at between 400,000 to 600,000 Kyat.

Public hospitals are unable to provide an adequate supply of oxygen for their patients, leaving many to fend for themselves.

“The biggest challenge is oxygen. We try our best to buy and collect oxygen as much as we can but we still can’t match the need. The patients who need oxygen have contacted us and we, charity groups, have to share oxygen among ourselves. But we still have difficulty and we can’t fulfill the need,” said a member of a charity group from Thanbyuzayat.

The military junta has neglected COVID-19 patients’ need for oxygen, leaving communities to build their own oxygen plants.

Mawlamyine-based Thar Tha Nar Nwe Foundation, and the All Mon Region COVID-19 Prevent and Control Committee and other local charity groups are planning to build self-reliant oxygen plants.

As of August 7, Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State, has recorded nearly 800 deaths due to COVID-19. Most lacked oxygen and had not received proper medical care.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News