Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Sep 21: Because of the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the state, oxygen shortage has become grave in almost all the districts. People suffering from COVID symptoms have to get treatment promptly as they have no other go. Demand for oxygen has become fivefold while the production is only 70 percent. As a result, hospitals are under extreme pressure. The district administration has already warned that many senior citizens who suffer from other health issues then develop symptoms of coronavirus infection. Therefore, it has advised the people to act before it is too late.
Representational image
At a time when the number of corona positive patients is increasing in the district, supply of oxygen cylinders to big and small scale industries has been completely stopped since the last 15 days. The industries are suffering from oxygen shortage since the last 15 to 20 days. In the past, demand for oxygen stood at an average of 50 cylinders per month but it has gone up to 100 to 150 cylinders now. Therefore, oxygen supply to industries has been completely stopped. Oxygen is not even being supplied to garages and commercial units and industrial concerns. People working in garages in particular suffer a lot. The next two months will be critical. "We have 15 branches including Udupi and Mangaluru. All the cylinders meant for industries have been diverted to hospitals now. We have stopped supply cylinder to industries. Large scale factories will have a bleak future," said Dinesh Bangera, general manager of Westcoast Gas Agency here.
Deputy commissioner of the district, G Jagadeesha, speaking to Daijiworld, said that saving the lives of the people is of top priority. He noted that shortage of oxygen cylinders is prevalent in the whole country and therefore the central government has instructed industrial cylinders to be converted into oxygen cylinders. As the number of COVID positive people is increasing, they do not get the required quantity of industrial cylinders. The situation will ease once the number of COVID patient decreases," he said.
Jagadeesha stated that there is a shortage of liquid gas plants in the district. He said that the district administration can arrange for space if private concerns come forward for the same. He said at present, oxygen required by patients is available in the district and the district drug controller manages the same.
District COVID nodal officer, Prashanth Bhat, says that a gas plant with investment of Rs three crore has been installed in the district hospital at Ajjarkad here, which is yet to begin operations. He said that of late, the number of patients requiring high flow nasal cannula oxygen has increased, in which case, 60 to 70 litres of oxygen is required per person per minute. There is a shortage of liquid oxygen, he stated.
District drug controller, Nagaraj, said that the gas agencies are struggling to meet demand by hospitals and that liquid gas is being indented from other districts. He said that the situation is delicate and added that the gas plant being installed at Ajjarkad is of 50 gas cylinder capacity. He said that the health department is somehow managing the situation and said that the people can help by promptly getting their health condition checked.
Increasing Happy Hypoxia cases: Next 6 weeks crucial
Udupi TMA Pai Hospital nodal officer, Dr Shashikiran Umakanth said that when neumonia occurs on account of coronavirus, oxygen level in the body goes down. As the patient does not face problem in breathing, it gives rise to 'happy hypoxia' in the patient, which is very dangerous, he stated.
He said that in case of pneumonia arising out of other viruses and bacteria, people suffer from breathing problems and get treated in hospitals. However, in case of COVID, happy hypoxia does not cause breathing problem. Such patients are brought to hospitals after their condition becomes very serious. They need to be admitted into intensive care units and ventilators have to be fixed, he stated. He said that now-a-days, COVID infection is detected at the fag end as patients do not get themselves tested till the situation worsens. Therefore, the death rate is going up, he reasoned.
He said that blood vessels get blocked in case of COVID infection which gives rise to multiple organs failure. He said that the infection can be fully addressed but it is difficult to save life if the patient is brought to hospital at the last minute.
He said that so far, 450 medical staff from the district has been infected with corona virus and they too have faced need for oxygen. He warned that unless the people get themselves promptly examined and treated, during the next four to six weeks, hundreds of people might lose their lives. He said there is shortage of expert doctors as the infection has also spread to doctors”.
Is district administration not taking action?
Observing the present scenario, people seem to be less serious or ignoring social distancing norms. People are getting together for the upcoming gram panchayat elections, conducting programmes and meetings without following Covid norms. The district administration should be better equipped to handle this situation, many feel.