In the growing edge of industrial and medical advancements, oxygen is an essential medical treatment to save human lives.
But, in recent weeks, it’s just become clear that how vital it is as the number of COVID-19 cases is increasing rapidly.
A majority of hospitals in Nepal are facing the crisis of oxygen as the demand for it has sky-rocketed due to its requirement for the COVID-19 patients.
The oxygen plants which were passive in the past are now conditioned to work laboriously to meet the demand. Many hospitals are also installing liquid oxygen to refill the cylinders as soon as possible to treat patients efficiently.
Despite the active production, the hospitals are still not being able to meet the requirement and have been compelled to rely on outside sources.
COVID has simply exposed how fragile the system around oxygen has been over the years. Not being able to meet the demand even after the active oxygen plants and the donation received from China shows the weakness of our system.
Another reason that might have affected the supply can be the breakdown of plants, maintenance, and irregular circulation of cylinders, especially in rural places it might be the problem of transportation.
Oxygen and ventilators should have been an easily accessible medical facility for the people. The government also has asked for help from international countries and some of the countries like the US who has provided 100 ventilators, 10,000 PPE, breathing devices, and other health assistance to Nepal.
The ongoing pandemic also portrays the economic instability in the nation. People are not being able to purchase the oxygen cylinders due to the rise in their prices and people who have the cash are not able to get their hands on one due to the lack of supply.
The lack of monitoring of the government is leading to the selling of the product on the black market. Even during this crisis, the government is not efficient.
The basic health facility should be provided with a fixed cost so that it is affordable to the people.
Oxygen which is a fundamental life-giving element is now hard to get a hold of as the country does not have sufficient resources and supply to meet the current imposition.
Another reason that might have affected the supply can be the breakdown of plants, maintenance, and irregular circulation of cylinders, especially in rural places it might be the problem of transportation.
The medical facilities might not have reached the hospitals or health sectors on time due to the lack of maintenance of the roads.
Medical treatment like oxygen should have been there when needed as it is one of the essential support for respiratory illness and in general to live.
This is the lack of supervision of the government. The taxes that we pay should be utilized in good order.
Every country must invest in Covid oxygen which will ultimately help in aiding the population in fighting the crisis and in the long run improving the oxygen system of the nation.
Now, investing in health facilities will help in the future if something like this arises again. Having a backup for medical facilities is also crucial.
Medical treatment like oxygen should have been there when needed as it is one of the essential support for respiratory illness and in general to live.
Hence, in this current situation, oxygen cylinders are one of the predominant health facility required for the people and a major problem to overcome as the people affected by coronavirus is escalating in prodigious volume.
(The write is a students, BBA 1st Year at Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM)
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