COVI19-Kasungu DHO Stuck With Two Empty Oxygen Cylinders
Spokesperson for Kasungu District Health Office, Catherine Yoweli, says the facility is stuck with two empty oxygen cylinders at a time Covid-19 cases are rising in the district.
"All emergency cases requiring oxygen would have to be referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe," she says.
Only days ago, a nurse diagnosed with Covid-19 died in transit to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe about 130 kilometers away, as she could not be provided the life-supporting assistance in Kasungu.
People who originate from Kasungu have since launched a social media campaign to raise funds to buy oxygen cylinders for the hospitals.
"We want to raise 3 to 10 million Kwacha to procure fifteen oxygen cylinders and other PPEs to equip our referral facility," says Madalitso Kazombo, MP for Kasungu East and first deputy speaker of the Malawi Parliament, himself recently recovered from Covid-19.
In his recent address to the nation, President Lazarus Chakwera said government is over-stretched and called for outside help, acknowledging efforts by some individuals to help out.
As of today, Kasungu district has 132 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 75 of which are active. There have been two deaths.
Kasungu District Hospital has a catchment of not less than 900,000 people.
