The battle against critical respiratory conditions in Nyandarua has received a major boost after the County Government installed an oxygen gas manifold at the J.M Kariuki Memorial County Referral Hospital.
Presiding over the exercise, His Excellency Deputy Governor John Mwangi said the intervention will benefit all County residents and neighbouring devolved units since medical oxygen is critical in the treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients.
Oxygen was in 2019 classified under the Kenya Essential Medicines List as an essential medicine for the treatment of hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood), and is one of the six inhalational medicines that should be available from dispensary level, following similar recognition by the World Health Organization in 2017.
The Deputy Governor said His Excellency Governor (Dr.) Moses N. Badilisha Kiarie is aware that patients at the hospital were previously being served straight from a cylinder, which was not only cumbersome but also limiting in times of crisis since this can only be used by a person at a time.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Hon. (Dr.) Zachary Gichuki, in remarks delivered on his behalf by his counterpart for Public Service, Administration and Devolution Hon. (Dr.) Paul Wanjau, noted that today’s investment allows for 10 patients to be put on oxygen support concurrently via a four-cylinder manifold.
The project is a collaboration between the County Government, Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation, Rotary club of Hurlingham and Rotary club of Taree-Australia, aimed at improving oxygen delivery at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.
The Deputy Governor was accompanied by acting Chief Officer for Public Service, Administration and Devolution Ms. Mary Oketch, the hospital’s Superintendent Dr. Beatrice Mugure, Dr. Grace Maano (Rotary Club of Taree-Australia), Ms. Veronicah Ndumbi (Rotary Club of Hurlingham), Ms. Lilian Waihuini (Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation) and County Biomedical Engineer Mr. Peter Kanyingi.
