Kenya's oxygen production firm Hewatele is doubling production this year to keep up with surging demand from hospitals that are treating critically ill Covid-19 patients, the company said.
Demand for the commodity has more than doubled to 880 tonnes from 410 tonnes before the pandemic, the ministry of health said, causing a steep shortage due to lack of installed capacity.
“This country doesn't have capacity to put 2,000 patients under high flow oxygen at the same time. We need to do something urgently,” said Bernard Olayo, founder of the company. The firm produces oxygen by the chemical method, using a naturally occurring salt to separate nitrogen from the air.To resolve that issue, Hewatele will invest another $15 million next year to build an air separation unit to produce liquid oxygen, which will lead to a ten-fold output increase to 20 tonnes per day, he said.
“Children would die of pneumonia, not because we didn't know what to do, but because we didn't have oxygen,” he said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
LIVESTREAM | Health Dept briefs media on COVID-19 vaccine rolloutHealth Minister Joe Phaahla and Deputy Health Minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo brief media on South Africa's COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Read more »
'The Year of Charlotte Maxeke': Women at forefront of Covid-19 fightLeading the charge is Zola Ngoma and Viwe Biyana.
Read more »
Transport issues stall Covid-19 vaccination efforts in rural Free State | CitypressAbout 16 Covid-19 jabs have been administered for every 100 people in the province, although some people would have received two.
Read more »
Tributes pour in as Cape nurse loses devoted husband to Covid-19Six months after she vaccinated President Cyril Ramaphosa and saved many against Covid-19 complications through inoculation, Cape Town nurse Milanie Bennett felt the sting of Covid-19 when her husband, Langley Bennett, succumbed to the virus.
Read more »
COVID-19 | WATCH | CEO implements mandatory vaccinationIn a letter to staff, David Ryan of Rhino Africa, says there is simply no place at his company, for anyone who isn't prepared to adhere to this simple gesture of humanity.
Read more »