Mrauk-U oxygen plant to temporarily suspend distribution to other townships

By DMG 27 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
27 July 2021, Mrauk-U 

The distribution of oxygen from an oxygen plant in Mrauk-U, Arakan State, will be suspended temporarily from July 27, according to Nang Yeik Garunar, a community-based charity group helping to supply oxygen in the town. 

Mrauk-U Hospital has stopped distributing oxygen to other townships due to the increasing number of patients who are in need of oxygen, said U Oo Than Tun, secretary of Nang Yeik Garunar.  

“Oxygen consumption at Mrauk-U Hospital is now very high. The oxygen plant in Mrauk-U can refill 40 cylinders a day, but has recently suspended distribution to other townships due to higher consumption. Mrauk-U Hospital is in dire need of oxygen and we are constantly providing oxygen,” he added. 

Virus patients from other townships have been admitted to Mrauk-U Hospital due to the relative efficiency of supplemental oxygen treatments at the hospital, he said. 

“We want to supply oxygen to other townships, but there are too many patients and there is not enough oxygen in Mrauk-U. Initially, we distributed oxygen to other townships due to the low number of virus cases in Mrauk-U. In addition, patients from other townships often come to Mrauk-U Hospital because they can get oxygen here. Due to the large number of patients [now], there is a lack of oxygen in Mrauk-U,” he explained. 

At present, more than 60 Covid-19 patients are being treated at Mrauk-U Hospital and oxygen supplies are said to be insufficient for the virus patients’ needs. 

Oxygen will be distributed to other townships and areas of urgent need after the number of virus patients decreases at Mrauk-U Hospital, according to Nang Yeik Garunar. 

U Oo Than Tun added that it has been difficult to produce oxygen at the plant in Mrauk-U due to heavy rains and power outages. 

“The other day, the electricity went out at around 3 a.m., and the machine stopped working. The electricity was restored at about 7 a.m., and the plant was unable to produce enough oxygen. Considering buying a generator, I think it will cost around K14.6 million or K12 million. For that we are collecting cash donations, and other matters must rely on the abbot who led the installation of the oxygen plant in Mrauk-U,” he said. 

Oxygen produced by Mrauk-U’s oxygen plant was being distributed to other Arakan State townships such as Ann, Myebon, Minbya, Kyauktaw, Manaung, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Taungup, Thandwe and Sittwe. 

As of July 26, a total of 2,343 cases and 120 deaths were reported in Arakan State during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave, according to figures compiled by the state’s Department of Public Health.