The New Term of Fear Is 'Oxygen'

Khulna is Covid-19's new 'hotspot' in the country. The number and death of corona patients are increasing day by day in this division. In such a situation, there is a shortage of beds as well as oxygen in the hospital. Doctors fear the hard times will escalate further.

Oxygen crisis is now the main problem of corona treatment not only in Khulna but in almost all parts of the country. The amount of oxygen needed in hospitals before the epidemic began has now multiplied. The price of cylinders is also increasing as the demand for oxygen increases. However, the question has arisen as to whether there is capacity, infrastructure, and other facilities to meet that demand.

According to the Department of Health, the current demand for oxygen in the country is 150 tons. Of this, Linde Bangladesh and Spectra are supplying 80 and 38 tons respectively. These two companies produce oxygen at their own plants. Besides, they also import from India.

Fearing a halt in imports from India, the Department of Health has contacted three more domestic companies outside the two contracted companies to get oxygen. Of these, Abul Khair Steel Melting Limited has 7 tons daily, Islam Oxygen 20 tons and AK Oxygen Ltd. will be able to supply 8 tons.

Before the Covid situation, the country had a daily demand of 100 tons of medical grade oxygen, officials said. The demand for high flow nasal cannula, ventilators and ICUs has increased abnormally as the number of covid patients has increased.

Among the other symptoms of coronavirus or covid-19 patients is shortness of breath. Patients who have tolerable levels of shortness of breath do not need to take oxygen to breathe. But those who have high levels of shortness of breath have to be supplied with oxygen from outside to keep their breathing active.

It is learned that the government has not yet been able to provide ICU facilities to government hospitals in 29 districts. The number of daily Covid-19 tests is still insufficient. Hospitals that have a central supply of oxygen have fewer problems. But most of the public and private hospitals in the country do not have the opportunity to supply oxygen centrally. As a result, the patient has to be given oxygen through a cylinder.

Harun-ur-Rashid, a resident of Mirpur, was seen on the spot carrying an oxygen cylinder for refilling. He came to the colony market of Tejgaon from Mirpur in the hope of getting some oxygen. Even at the end. The seller spoke of the crisis. Harun-ur-Rashid is worried even though he is out of breath for a while. Where will you get it again when you run out of oxygen?

Speaking to Abu Taher, owner of Taher Enterprise in Tejgaon, it was learned that oxygen supply has decreased. And they are having a hard time. '

Members of a voluntary organization called Khulna Oxygen Bank have been providing free oxygen services to the people of Khulna for a long time. Now a group of six of them are staying at the Corona Dedicated Hospital in Khulna every night. One of them named Asad Sheikh said, ‘Because not all beds have central oxygen, many patients need cylinder oxygen. But late at night or early in the morning there is not much oxygen. There are plenty of oxygen crises. We have our own 200 cylinders. We are also not getting the supply as per the demand. '

A relative of a patient at Corona Hospital, who did not want to be named, said his father's oxygen saturation dropped to 85 at night. Oxygen was running. However, the flow is reduced later due to depletion of oxygen. This problem is many.

The Department of Health has also expressed concern over the oxygen crisis in the country. In a regular bulletin to the Department of Health on Monday (June 28th) at noon, the department's spokesman, Prof. Dr. Robed Amin, said the rise in coronavirus infections could lead to an oxygen crisis. Therefore, the Department of Health is already preparing to deal with the crisis. In the meantime, they have started liaising  with various industries and oxygen suppliers.

Experts say that given the state of capacity of the country's health sector, it will not be possible to prevent a catastrophe if the corona infection increases for some reason or a situation like India's arises. Although there has been some improvement in the capacity of the health sector compared to last year, experts say it is still not enough.

Dhaka University Institute of Health Economics teacher. Shafiun Nahin Shimul said that it is very normal that oxygen will not come from India. Because there is a crisis going on. With these thoughts in mind, the next plan has to be made. Oxygen can also be produced from raw materials and air. If you don't have raw materials, you have to look at how to do it from the air. If the private sector does not make a profit, they will not go into production. So we have to work in coordination with private organizations.