The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) has started making oxygen gas medical to combat the raging coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The product is called NEC Medical Oxygen and MediaSpace News understands it has been in use over time especially by the Ugandan Airforce.
The Covid-19 cases in the country has spiked in recent weeks as the coronavirus second wave ravages the country despite Uganda having recorded tremendous success during the first wave, according to World Health Organisation reports.
Uganda has seen cases surge from almost zero in April this year to over 1,500 daily, with high rates of recovery despite a gradual rise in number of deaths daily.
After partnering with Ministry of Health, UPDF experts kicked off production in Luweero Industries, a subsidiary of National enterprise corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of Ministry of Defence, reports a Ugandan website Trumpet News. This followed a meeting between UPDF officials and Ministry of Health staff this morning led by Dr. Charles Olera in which both sides made arrangements to facilitate the massive production of the product to save Ugandan lives.
According information obtained by this website, the oxygen factory was certified by National Drug Authority (NDA) at the start of this week and supplies have already been made to Mulago Referral and Bombo Military hospitals.
Officials from Luweero Industries told this website that the oxygen produced by the soldiers is 99.9% effective and therefore will help to ease shortage in the country.
The same sources have told MediaSpace News that the oxygen product has been around for some time but mainly utilized by the Ugandan Airforce with a 99.9% pure efficacy.
As Covid-19 infections continue to shoot up, hundreds of patients are admitted in hospital ICUs and use oxygen to support them in breathing.
Some of the deaths recorded, according to health experts result from lack of oxygen due to shortage in health facilities.
The production of this oxygen in Luweero will raise the supply in the country and further aid to stabilization of Covid-19 patients admitted in several ICU facilities both in private and government hospitals.
For example, a week ago, all Kampala hospitals ran out of oxygen. The hospital administrations had to procure this oxygen in Jinja.
Officials in government hospitals who asked not to be mentioned said that oxygen consumption has tripled especially in Kampala.
On June 8, Ministry of Health registered a record 1400 Covid-19 cases as the new strain continues to ravage the nation.
Several deaths have also been reported mostly from private hospitals. Relatives and friends of the deceased have in the last three days passed on their announcements through social media.
Lt. Gen. James Mugira, the Managing Director of National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) confirmed to Trumpet News that UPDF has kick started production of medical oxygen.