Indonesia has received 15 thousand oxygen concentrators from donors, which would help the country in meeting the requirement for 50 thousand oxygen concentrators that the Health Ministry is trying to procure, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikinr has said.
During a virtual press conference on Wednesday, the minister informed that at least six thousand of the donated oxygen concentrators have been allocated to hospitals and other healthcare facilities to help them meet their oxygen needs for COVID-19 patients.
He likened oxygen concentrators to mini oxygen factories, which would help hospital patients.
The donation was made on account of Indonesia’s inability to produce enough oxygen to meet COVID-19 needs, he said. Indonesia can only produce 1,700 tons of oxygen daily, and it is mainly meant for industrial use, he added.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities only need 400 tons of oxygen daily, but ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia, the need for oxygen has skyrocketed, he noted. Currently, the demand for oxygen has increased fivefold to two thousand tons daily, he said.
Thus, procurement of oxygen concentrators is a viable option amid national oxygen production limitations, the minister added. Each oxygen concentrator can generate up to 5 to 10 litre of oxygen per minute as long as it is powered on, he said.
“Currently we are in the process of procuring 50 thousand oxygen concentrators. Every one thousand concentrators is same with 20 ton of oxygen per day. With 50 thousand (concentrators), we can supply one thousand tons (of oxygen) every day,” Sadikin said. The minister lauded the donation of oxygen concentrators, saying they would help meet COVID-19 patients’ oxygen needs.
He deemed the aids, especially the ones meant to help COVID-19 frontline workers such as healthcare workers, special gifts ahead of Independence Day.
Sadikin also urged people to work together so the pandemic can be quickly brought under control.
“In the momentum of Independence Day, let’s give (our nation) the best gift by working together. We need to stop vilifying and blaming others. No need to look for others’ mistakes. If we (work) together, we can do it, and Indonesia can stay safe,” he said.
Source: Antara News