Rhino Camp Health Center IV receives three oxygen cylinders

By Federick Dramadri

Rhino Camp Health Center IV in Madi-Okollo district has received three oxygen cylinders as the facility grapples with management of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
The three 47 litre capacity oxygen cylinders were donated by Gulu Agricultural Development Company to supplement government’s efforts in the management of COVID-19.
The facility’s in-charge Emmanuel Muto says the cylinders come timely following huge demands for oxygen at the facility.
"We have been yawning for such supplies. We had seven cylinders of lower capacity and about 5 of such cylinders of 10 litres which could actually be refilled within an hour and then we have two cylinders of 12litres capacity. Unfortunately of the seven cylinders, they have only two functional regulators meaning out of the seven we only use two, while the five do not have regulators. So the three new cylinders have come at the right time due to the demands", he said.
The administrator of Gulu Agricultural Development Company at Rhino Camp Ginnery Jenifer Angee says this is part of their cooperate responsibility.
"We deal so much in the purchase and marketing of cotton, simsim and soya beans in West Nile but we also have a special attachment to health because we have a very cordial responsibility where we work and we have always envisioned a healthy community now that COVID-19 appears to be threatening livelihood. These cylinders is part of our support towards that direction", he said.
Rhino Camp health centre IV currently has one patient at the treatment centre battling COVID-19 plus four others who need oxygen in large quantities with other health complications. The health facility has cumulatively managed 17 positive cases of coronavirus disease with two deaths.
The L C3 chairperson Rhino Camp Town council Aluma Godfrey Alua says this is a worth appreciating as several of the patients have been referred to Arua regional referral hospital due to inadequate oxygen at the facility.
“We were thinking a lot of how we can handle our patients in the health facility in relation to the oxygen which is needed by the patients sometimes you find that because these things are few, patients are referred to Arua and also you know the expenses incurred are great and these have come at the right time to help us. We really appreciate this signal and pray that government should listen to our plight now that we also have several refugees who come here for medication”, he said.
Akello Alice Opio, the chairperson of Madi-Okollo district covid-19 taskforce is constraint.
“Well initially that was our plan to procure at least four of similar cylinders but when Gulu Agricultural Development Company extended a signal to provide us with three cylinders, we breathed a sigh of relief”.

COVER PHOTO: One of the three oxygen cylinders donated to the facility. Photo by Federick Dramadri.