Philip Gabriel, Biomedical Engineer at the General Hospital Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State said that bringing medical oxygen plant to their hospital save children lives, reduced burden to the management and patients relatives across the state.
Gabriel who is in charge of the medical oxygen plant, exclusively told BusinessDay correspondent that the oxygen plant was donated by the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) and partners which handed over to Bauchi State Government two years ago which has continued to save many lives.
He said that bringing medical oxygen plant to the hospital has really proven to be helpful because people getting it at the cheaper price other than going to far facilities where they will be spending transportation and the risk of transporting the oxygen from distant location.
He further said that the introduction of the plant in Azare General Hospital has really helped, because in the past when the oxygen plant was not available, they used to refer patients to either Kano State or Plateau State for proper care.
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He also said that one of their main challenges was the issue of power supply in the hospital which needed to be addressed to make their work move well.
“One of the main challenges is power supply because currently we are running on generator which consumes so much diesel and has consequently raised the cost of the oxygen, but with alternative of the power supply, I am very sure that the cost will reduce drastically,” he said.
According to him, “Model for solarisation has been done in some states of Kano and others; so, is possible that solar system will really help to overcome the power supply challenges.”
Jamila Muhammad from Pediatric Ward of the Hospital said that having oxygen plant in Pediatric ward has improved their work and made it easier.
She said that in the past when the hospital was not having the plant, they were not used to admitting patients, but only referred them to another facility that had oxygen plant for proper attention.
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“Now, we can admit patients comfortably; we are very happy and grateful to the UNICEF that provided the medical oxygen plant to our hospital.
“In the past, we were not happy at all because you see patients that you can admit to save their lives but for lack of the plant, but now we have enough oxygen plant for patients,” she said.
Rukayyat Abdulhamid from the maternity unit said they used to record lots of challenges but now things have been a lot easier with the plant. She however, said that the unit needed more doctors.
Muhammad Sambo Alkali, Bauchi State executive Chairman, Hospital Management Board, expressed appreciation to the UNICEF for donating the medical oxygen plant to the General Hospital Azare which has really helped to save lives.
He said that their main challenge at the moment is the shortage of the biomedical engineers that should be taking care of the oxygen plant.
The Chairman of the hospital management board urged people to engage in studying medical engineering which is a career that is in high demand, not only in Bauchi State but across the country.
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He also said that very few people are going for the biomedical engineering but they are doing excellent job whenever their attention is needed.
David Audu, working with the UNICEF Bauchi Field office, said that statistics indicated that 15% death of under five children caused by pneumonia disease due to lack of medical oxygen plant in some facilities.
Audu said that with the planting of the medical oxygen plant at the General Hospital Azare, the rate of children death has been drastically reduced,
He said that medical oxygen plant is a vital component of human life.
