Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 24 (EMN): Nagaland has received equipment for six more Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants to be installed in Peren, Wokha, Mon, Zunhenoto, Longleng and Kiphire districts.
With the equipment for the facility funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) having arrived on July 16, all the 11 districts of the state, except Noklak will soon have an oxygen plant each.
PSA plants had already been installed in five districts -- Dimapur, Mokokchung, Phek and Tuensang – and have started generating medical oxygen for intensive care treatment to the critically ill Covid-19 patients. However, installation work is yet to begin in most of the remaining districts.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Longleng, Dr. Obangjungla informed that there was delay in the construction of the oxygen plant storage facility in the district but it would be completed in ‘no time and few final touches are still pending’.
She added that installation process would begin only when the engineer arrives and therefore couldn’t ascertain when it would be functional.
While in Kiphire, Dr. Dheni Sangtam (Epidemiologist) informed that the PSA oxygen generation plant installation process had been completed and ‘hopefully, it would be functional in the coming week’.
As for Zunheboto, Nodal Officer Dr. Shikato informed this newspaper that equipment for the oxygen plant had reached District Hospital Zunheboto but installation work was still pending as they were waiting for the technician to arrive.
Shikato expressed hope that the engineer would arrive by next week as the storage facilities for the PSA oxygen plant was completed two weeks ago.
Chief Medical Officer of Wokha, Dr. C W Tungoe also informed that the PSA equipment had arrived in the district but installation work was pending as they were waiting for the engineers. He added that everything was ready except installation work.
Deputy Commissioner of Mon, Thavaseelan K also informed that equipment for the oxygen plant had arrived in the district and storage facilities were also ready except the installation. He added that they were hoping to complete it by next month.
The deputy commissioner of Peren, Sentiwapang Aier, also spoke on similar lines, informing that equipment had reached Peren and storage facilities were ready except installation.
It may be mentioned that the first three PSA oxygen generation plants installed in the district hospitals of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung, were under PM CARES fund, while the ones in Phek and Tuensang were funded by the government of Japan in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).