Rujeko Isolation centre to produce own oxygen

By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu

Masvingo – The Masvingo Rujeko isolation centre will now produce its own oxygen after receiving an oxygen concentrator and drug trolley from Solidar Med, an official has said.

The donation was handed over to the City Mayor, Colin Maboke and will go a long way in assisting the isolation centre.

In an interview, Dr Alvorn Mutengerere from Solidar Med said oxygen is of vital importance to Covid -19 patients and the oxygen concentrator will prevent more costs as they will be producing on their own.

“We realised that the isolation centre also falls under Masvingo, so we then thought to extend our support with the small funds we had to support the Rujeko Isolation centre. We then visited the isolation centre and saw how things were being run and we noticed some gaps so this can be a start to be able to take care of Covid -19 patients. From the oxygen concentrator there is no need to buy oxygen as it actually generates oxygen from the air andthen straight to the patient with no need for external oxygen clinders.

“This will save the isolation centre from purchasing oxygen. Oxygen is vital in the fight against Covid -19 and patients need oxygen. So concentrating our own oxygen is the way to go, so the isolation centre will be producing their own oxygen,” he said.

The drug trolley was also donated after realising that nurses did not have proper medical eqiupment to store drugs when attending to patients.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Masvingo Town Mayor Colin Maboke expressed his gratitude over the donations and promised the oxygen concentrator will be used not only for patients admitted at the isolation centre but also the whole of Masvingo province. The oxygen cylinder will also help increase efficiency at the isolation centre.

Solidar Med spent aproximately $1 800 for the equipments they donated. They have also helped in the refurbishment of the Intensive Care Unit at Masvingo General Hospital. They work with hospitals in the province namely in Bikita, Mwenezi, Zaka and Masvingo.

However the Masvingo City Council Health Officer said that they need more oxygen concentrators for the remaining nine beds.

Masvingo province has six isolation centres which are Masvingo provincial hospital, Rujeko Isolation centre, Chiredzi Hospital, Chivi Hospital, Neshuro Hospital and Ndanga Hospital.