Mariental hospital gets oxygen generation plant

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Namib Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA) on Thursday handed over an oxygen generation plant to the Mariental District Hospital to assist the hospital with stable oxygen supply amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plant has the capacity to produce up to 500 litres of oxygen per minute, with purity levels going up to 96 per cent.

Speaking during the handover NAMDIA Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Hamutenya said the plant is part of the company’s donation of over N.dollars 7.6 million to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

He said apart from the oxygen generation plant, the company earlier this week handed over five oxygen concentrators to the ministry plus over N.dollars 3 million for the acquisition of oxygen and other oxygen-related equipment.

“I am a fervent believer that one man’s success is a community’s success, because NAMDIA’s accomplishment as an organisation is helping make a difference in the community and this ought to serve as a reminder that we should always remember to plough our success back into our communities,” said Hamutenya.

In his acceptance speech Health Minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula thanked NAMDIA for the support to the ministry, noting that the company has been one of the most reliable and generous entities in its support to the ministry, particularly to the COVID-19 preparedness and response.

“Oxygen therapy is one of the critical interventions in the treatment of respiratory distress, which is also a symptom of COVID-19 infection. The oxygen generating system will therefore ensure that the hospital has the necessary capacity to supply medical oxygen for those in need. It will also bring about a reduction in the expenditure on medical oxygen cylinders, which has proven to be costly over the years,” Shangula said.

He said since the onset of COVID-19, the government has procured more than 100 oxygen concentrators while private sector entities, individuals and development cooperation partners have also donated dozens of concentrators.

“These pieces of equipment have been distributed to health facilities across the country for use by needy admitted patients,” he said, while thanking the private sector and individuals across the country whom he said have proven ready and willing to support the COVID-19 response in various ways.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency