Managing Director of IGL, Peter Graham says the country will see a significant improvement in the supply of medical oxygen in coming days to treat patients suffering from coronavirus.
IGL Limited, the country's sole producer of medical oxygen, reported yesterday that it had run out of the supply due to the explosion in covid-19 admissions in hospitals across the island.
Speaking on Radio Jamaica's weekly news review programme,That's a Rap, this afternoon, Graham explained that there is now a global shortage of medical oxygen due to the third wave of covid 19.
“So all our hospitals would have reported adequate supplies of oxygen as late as last week Thursday. Our local production facility in St Catherine is able to produce about one half of the current demand . This particular weekend, based on weather conditions , a Storm in the Central America region - there was a delay in the arrival into Kingston. The shipment that was expected on the weekend has been delayed until Tuesday and that is the reason for the specific issue we have now……we expect to get out of this particular situation starting tomorrow…”
He said three shipments of medical oxygen will arrive after one tomorrow morning, and on Tuesday.
Meanwhile the Opposition People‘s National Party spokesman on Health Dr Morais Guy is again urging Prime Minister Andrew Holness to seek local and international assistance to control the medical oxygen crisis.
” We were assured by the prime minister that there were sufficient provisions for oxygen. We know of shortages in hospitals and the doctors are working under difficult conditions. The reality is that not only Covid patients use oxygen. The government should try to find entities that have oxygen manufacturing equipment. I know of one that can supply a 40 bed unit,”Guy noted.
.jpg)
All feeds
