On Sunday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday called the shortage of oxygen for Covid-19 patients in Delhi an ’emergency’.
And amid a crippling shortage of life-saving medical oxygen in many Covid-hit parts of the country, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has advised states to keep the “demand under control” by containing the rapid second coronavirus wave.
Transportation Hurdles For Oxygen
As of now, India does not have enough cryogenic tankers to ensure 24×7 road transport of medical oxygen
The Indian Railways is all set to operate ‘Oxygen Express’ trains for the transport of liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders. A green corridor is being created to ensure the fast movement of Oxygen Express trains.
The empty tankers would be moved from Kalamboli, and Boisar railway stations and sent to Vizag and Jamshedpur, Rourkela, and Bokaro, for loading of liquid medical oxygen tankers.
The question is why is oxygen so vital for the treatment of Covid-19 patients? NewsMobile breaks it down for you.
Indian Railways gears up to run OXYGEN EXPRESS in response to second wave of Corona
🔹Fully ready to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen & Oxygen cylinders across country
🔹Green Corridor created to ensure faster delivery
🔹Tankers placed on Flat wagons (DBKM) for loading. pic.twitter.com/2JSE27uLmv— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 19, 2021
How is Oxygen Used For Covid-19 Patients?
Oxygen is one of the most important, life-saving gases used in medical science.
In this pandemic, oxygen is being used in its most critical form in the medical sector. These are respiration, incident response and life support.
The main reason for being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 is to receive supplemental oxygen, to increase the amount of oxygen in the lungs and blood, which will be sufficient treatment before recovery in most cases.
This can be administered in a number of ways, including into the nose using plastic tubing, or via a loose-fitting face mask.
Where Is Oxygen Manufactured In India?
Oxygen has been used in the iron and steel industry, hospitals, pharmaceutical units that manufacture vials, and the glass industry.
Currently, most states have diverted their entire oxygen production for medical use.
The major manufacturers are Inox Air Products, Linde India, Goyal MG Gases Pvt Ltd, National Oxygen Limited.
Can Oxygen Generators Be A Solution To Oxygen Shortage?
There is a solution to avoid the countless comings and goings of trucks needed to get oxygen to the hospital. This solution is called an oxygen generator. It has existed for over 20 years, but is far from being widespread.
How can oxygen generators provide an effective response to the increased oxygen requirements faced by our hospitals?
When a hospital is equipped with an oxygen generator, it becomes its own oxygen supplier: oxygen is produced on-site and on-demand, from ambient air.
In India, the Empowered Group( a group formed by the PMO comprising of officials from different ministries and experts) plans to identify 100 hospitals in far-flung areas to install pressure swing absorption plants, which can manufacture their own oxygen and make the hospitals self-reliant.
(With agency inputs)