Kathmandu: Chair of Global Health Support of the Non-resident Nepali Association, Dr Sanjeeb Sapkota announced that the NRNA plans to send 100 oxygen concentrators to Nepal that it has procured from China by the end of May. The initiative is funded by Nepalis residing in over 60 countries who managed to raise 150,000 US dollars for the cause, according to Dr Sapkota.
The initiative is one among the NRNA’s efforts in tackling the second wave of outbreaks in Nepal.
“NRNA Qatar plans to establish oxygen plants in several cities of Nepal while NRNA USA is establishing an isolation center in Janakpur. Likewise, NRNA Bahrain has collected oxygen cylinders which are being shipped to Nepal”, Dr Sapkota said.
The NRNA has also begun a Covid Hotline to provide guidance to those infected and their family members all over Nepal.
It plans to distribute it in parts of the country, focusing on its utility in rural areas. It intends to cater to the cases of the rural areas where oxygen supply is not readily available.
The NRNA has also begun a Covid Hotline to provide guidance to those infected and their family members all over Nepal.
The concentrators will each have a capacity to emit 10 liters of oxygen per minute.
“While oxygen therapy is not the only treatment that the infected person should receive, a 5-10 liter per minute oxygen flow can maintain the oxygen saturation level at 95 % for most of the infected people.”
“Serious patients who need oxygen at a flow of 40 liter per minute or more need to be put in ventilators and no amount of oxygen can maintain the adequate oxygen saturation level at 95 % or more.”
The oxygen concentrators are different from regular oxygen cylinders. They concentrate oxygen from the air, removing nitrogen. They also need electricity to operate.
Dr Sapkota also informed that the NRNA will be collaborating with the Nepal Medical Association and independent health professionals in monitoring the concentrators and continuing the Covid Hotline to save as many lives as possible.
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