Karnataka: Faulty oxygen system hinders Haveri’s fight

HAVERI: Medical-grade liquid oxygen might be in great demand and in short supply, but Nirmiti Kendra Haveri, the designated Covid hospital in Haveri district, is letting a lot of the precious gas leak right into the atmosphere.
The hospital recently spent lakhs of rupees on installing an oxygen delivery system, but it’s faulty and patients admitted to the 60-oxygen-bed facility don’t get recommended dose of the gas.
As per American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) series 6000 standard, the medical oxygen installer must be proficient and experienced in installation of oxygen systems.
However, there is no expert to maintain the oxygen delivery system. Currently, Group ‘D’ workers handle its maintenance and functioning. “Covid patients suffer symptoms like hypoxia (low oxygen saturation) and any patient with saturation below 95 needs external oxygen support,” said a doctor, adding: “About 10% of the total Covid patients need oxygen and the right amount at the correct pressure will stabilise breathing. But, the hospital oxygen system doesn’t have proper pressure and it leaks.”
Another doctor said a Covid patient, depending on his/her condition, requires 2 to 8 litres of oxygen in a minute. Dr Rajendra Doddamani, district health officer, said the administration is repairing leaks in the system.
District deputy commissioner Sanjay Shettanavar said installation work was done in a hurry using local plumbers.