Phebe, Bong County – The Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA) has donated 10 filled oxygen canisters to Phebe Hospital, and has also held discussions with the administration to rehabilitate the hospital’s oxygen production plant.
During the discussion, the Foundation also pledged a 50 kva generator to the hospital to power its oxygen production plant.
Demand for oxygen at public hospitals in Liberia had increased five-fold in recent weeks. And Madam Leymah Gbowee, founder of GPFA, said the gesture was necessitated by the increased number of patients who need oxygen due to the surge in Covid-19 infections in the county.
Gbowee said the situation was critical though the number of Covid-19 patients in need of oxygen is unclear. While lauding Madam Gbowee for the intervention, Phebe Hospital’s medical director, Dr. Jefferson Sibley, said severe cases of Covid-19 patients in need of oxygen have worsened the situation in Bong County.
“The oxygen canisters donated by Madam Gbowee could not have come at a better time than now when the county is recording an increase in the number of people presenting with difficulty in breathing and requiring urgent oxygen therapy,” Dr. Sibley said.
Dr. Sibley said a large number of patients who are currently on admission at the treatment unit in Phebe are largely dependant on oxygen. “A patient with a critical case may use about six cylinders of oxygen in 24 hours,” he said.
He added: “We recognized the importance of generating oxygen because of the large number of patients. This has resulted in an escalating and alarming demand for oxygen”.
Sibley explained that oxygen canisters are industrial devices designed for regular supply into healthcare facilities, adding that the separate oxygen from other air components by using pressure swing adsorption or membrane separation techniques.
”This is particularly useful for patients with comorbidities who require prompt oxygen for survival. Oxygen from the plant will be very helpful for effective treatment due to the proximity of the plant which serves as a source.”
While restating the commitment of the adminitration of Phebe Hospital in the fight against COVID-19, Dr. Sibley assured that the present administration will not relent in its all-inclusive style of response against the pandemic by collaborating with other institutions.
Bong County has recorded 36 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with eight deaths – its highest number of new daily cases so far.
According to the county health officer, Dr. Jonathan Flomo, the Rubber Factory, Civil Compound, Cuttington University, Sinyea, Suakoko, Phebe Airstrip, NTA parking in Gbarnga are areas regarded as hotspots of the virus.