Masaka: Oxygen manufacturing plant breaks down

By Milly Nayiga

11^th June 2021

Greater Masaka Region is in crisis after the only oxygen manufacturing plant at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital broke down.

The crisis has caused panic among health authorities not only at the regional referral but also in other hospitals and health units that depend on the plant for oxygen. The breakdown comes amidst an increase in hospital admissions for Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) patients.

According to Dr Nathan Onyach, the Director of Masaka Hospital, the plant broke down on Saturday, yet without oxygen support, many of the people suffering from COVID-19 cannot make it. In just two weeks, Masaka region has lost nine people while nine others are still in High Dependency Units (HDU) where they are being supported to breathe.

Onyach explains that they were forced to get oxygen cylinders from Kampala to save the lives of COVID-19 patients who need oxygen support to avoid suffocation and swelling of the lungs. The hospital uses 40 cylinders every day to sustain support for COVID patients.

Patrick Ssekidde, the Rakai Hospital Administrator explains that they currently have six cylinders in place, yet they need more to be able to manage the oxygen consumption at the hospital.