Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec.22: In response to the mounting Omicron fear, the Centre has planned to identify and train at least one ‘Oxygen Steward’ in each district across the country.
The project seeks to equip all healthcare employees involved in oxygen management and administration with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure that medical oxygen is used efficiently and effectively, especially in resource-constrained settings.
These qualified individuals would be in charge of giving training on oxygen therapy and management in their particular districts, as well as supporting audits of oxygen delivery and surge readiness.
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharti Pravin Pawar while inaugurating the National Oxygen Stewardship Programme on Wednesday said, “Oxygen is life saving and critically important in the treatment of several illnesses, not just Covid-19. The country witnessed an increased oxygen demand during the pandemic. Hence, the rational use of oxygen has become mandatory and need of the hour.”
“It will enhance the skills of our healthcare workers in Oxygen therapy with necessary focus on essential knowledge and skills. This will also train our participants to avoid wastage or overuse of oxygen in resource constraint settings,” Dr. Pawar said.
“Government of India has sanctioned more than 1500 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants of which 1463 have been commissioned, including 1225 PSA plants which have been installed and commissioned under PMCARES Fund in every district of the country,” the Union Minister said, describing the government’s efforts to ensure increased oxygen availability. She noted that the states have been instructed to install PSA plants in public health institutions and to make PSA plant installation easier in private health facilities.
All countries confront resource constraints, according to Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, but it is critical that the available resources are used wisely. In support of this effort, he praised the initiative’s focus on guaranteeing oxygen administration efficiency. He also mentioned the recently announced ‘Oxycare’ dashboard as a significant step forward in oxygen administration.
