The Oxygen supply, in the wake of prevailing global pandemic, is quite comfortable in hospitals of Jammu province with enough oxygen production to cater to the requirement of Covid-19 patients of the region.Incharge Oxygen GMC and Deputy Medical Superintendent, Super Specialty Hospital, Dr Harjeet Rai, informed this while elaborating on the status of oxygen availability in health institutions of the region. ‘It is our earnest endeavor to ensure that no patient suffers for need of oxygen supply during this crucial time of worldwide epidemic”, he maintained while assuring the public of sufficient availability of oxygen in hospitals of Jammu province.He said that number of beds with oxygen support has been increased manifold to facilitate the Covid-19 patients.Detailing further on efforts being made to tackle effectively with the dreaded virus, Dr Rai said that the Government Medical College Jammu has a huge reservoir for liquid medical oxygen, LMO with a capacity of 20 thousand kilo litre. The reservoir was established last year in the backdrop of Covid pandemic, he added saying that an oxygen manifold system has also been installed which provides a primary flow of gas to the patients through regulators, gauges and relief valves. He informed that there is a 1200 lpm oxygen generation plant which caters to 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 immediately after the first wave of Covid struck Jammu, the UT administration flung into action and sanctioned construction of a number of oxygen generation plants in the region. Some of the new plants at Jammu have been set up in Chest Disease and TB Hospital, Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar and Government Medical College Jammu, he added. 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.He also acknowledged the contribution of Government of India towards increasing oxygen quota for J&K from 10 MT to 35 MT during the pandemic. 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 24x7 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.