Erongo Red donated oxygen concentrators to three state hospitals to reduce the scarcity of such equipment in the region.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was discovered that state hospitals in the Erongo Region desperately needed oxygen concentrators to treat patients.
According to the Erongo Red Chief Executive Officer, Tino !Hanabeb, the state facilities ended up rationing the equipment between patients in the hospitals and those receiving care at home.
Oxygen concentrators are crucial for medical facilities because they are used to deliver oxygen to patients with respiratory-related disorders or severe lung issues.
"We are aware of the ongoing shortages of oxygen concentrators and other equipment within the space, and I can also share with the community through our media colleagues that recently at our board meeting we approved what we call the contingency fund. A contingency fund is something that is managed by the CEO, and if there are any things unknown to us by the time we are doing our budget, maybe like these ones and many others, then it is incumbent upon my office. The intention is really how responsive you can be as a company."
The Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leonard Kabongo, said various hospitals still need oxygen concentrators despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He stressed that chronic respiratory diseases are in the top 10 causes of death in the Erongo region, based on last year's annual report.
"And these are many of the conditions, starting from lung cancers, chronic obstructive diseases, pneumonia, bronchitis, and TB. You know we have mines; people working in the mines are exposed to dust and other chemicals that cause chronic respiratory diseases, and when lungs are affected, because the lungs are our reserve of oxygen, we start having a shortage of oxygen, and some of the conditions cannot be treated in the hospitals LINK because now it becomes chronic long-standing conditions, and then this person would need supplementary oxygen for a long time."
The seven concentrators worth N$225 000 will be available to the state hospitals at Swakopmund, Usakos, and Omaruru.
Erongo Red will further spend N$35 000 to repair and replace streetlights outside the Swakopmund Hospital.