SRINAGAR: In the wake of the global pandemic, the oxygen supply in hospitals in Jammu province is very adequate, with enough oxygen output to meet the needs of Covid-19 patients in the area.
Dr Harjeet Rai, Charge Oxygen GMC and Deputy Medical Superintendent, Super Specialty Hospital, revealed this while discussing the state of oxygen availability in the region’s health facilities. Further, while stating while assuring the public of sufficient availability of oxygen in hospitals of Jammu province he said, “It is our earnest endeavor to ensure that no patient suffers for need of oxygen supply during this crucial time of worldwide epidemic.” He said that number of beds with oxygen support has been increased manifold to facilitate the Covid-19 patients.
Dr Rai went on to say that the Government Medical College in Jammu has a large pool of liquid medical oxygen, or LMO, with a capacity of 20,000 kilolitres, which is being used to combat the dreaded virus.
He added that an oxygen manifold system has also been built, which provides a primary flow of gas to the patients through regulators, gauges, and relief valves, and that the reservoir was developed last year in the wake of the Covid pandemic. He mentioned that a 1200 lpm oxygen generation plant is available for non-Covid patients.
‘Regular supply of oxygen through oxygen generation plants, oxygen manifolds and LMO is being provided to critical care wards, high dependency care units, isolation wards, CCUs and Ward 3 besides high end ventilators are also in service of the critical patients’, he affirmed.
Dr. Harjeet said that after the first wave of Covid hit Jammu, the UT administration sprung into action and approved the construction of several oxygen generation plants in the region. He added that new plants have been developed in Jammu at the Chest Disease and TB Hospital, Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, and Government Medical College Jammu.
Apart from these, such plants have also been constructed at Government Medical College Kathua, District Hospital Samba and District Hospital Reasi. From capacity of filling 1400-1500 oxygen cylinders, of 7 cubic milimeter capacity, we are now able to fill around 3000 cylinders a day’, he informed.
During the pandemic, he also thanked the Indian government for raising J&K’s oxygen quota from 10 to 35 MT.
He also appreciated the way government is encouraging and assisting private oxygen generation plants.
He informed that the Department of Industries & Commerce has launched a 24×7 War Room for providing supply of oxygen cylinders for other non-Covid patients getting care and treatment at home. The War Room can be reached at mobile numbers 9469593931 and 9469593933.
Moreover, J&K Government has started a live phone-in health programme on Gulistan channel which is being aired twice daily from 8:30 am to 9 am and 8:30 pm to 9 pm in which eminent doctors respond to public queries about the pandemic.
Regarding complaints of oxygen leakage in the hospital, Dr Rai clarified that it was result of a safety mechanism which prevents gas pressure from reaching unsafe levels.
Pertinently, all Covid related queries and doubts can be cleared on the helpline number 0191 2571616. Public can also call divisional control room at 0191-2520982, 2549676, 2674444, 2674115, 2674908 and seek information related to Covid treatment, home isolation and other non-Covid health problems.
