Jammu, 22: One of the most sought after item in the pandemic is an oxygenated bed. Any patient whose oxygen saturation level drops needs oxygen support. This support can be provided in home isolation using oxygen cylinders, or oxygen concentrators. In larger hospitals, oxygen is generally supplied to patients through central piping connected to oxygen plants of varying capacities. During the past few months, it is almost on war footing that the setting up of new oxygen generation plants (OGPs) has been undertaken.
When this phase of setting up of new OGPs is completed, the Jammu region spread over 26,000 square kilometres will have 41 OGPs with an installed capacity of 46,800 LPM (Litre Per Minute). This comes out to 26,000/41= 634. That means on an average, one oxygen plant will be available in 634 sq km of area. Once we also factor in that the Jammu district along will have 18 of these plants, we realise that the distribution of oxygen plants can’t be perhaps factored in like this. In a large, but sparsely populated district like Kishtwar which starts from Prem Nagar bordering Doda, lesser OGPs with lesser generation capacity are needed.
In Kashmir region, 57 OGPs with a generation capacity of 57,000 LPM will be available in an area of 15,948 square kilometres in a couple of months. That means 15,948/57= 280, or that an OGP will be available on an average of 280 sq km, as against one OGP in 634 sq km in the Jammu region.
Of course, some comparisons are odious because the variables reveal certain facts and conceal others. OGPs will be available only at the district headquarter level when all are set up in the Jammu region. The comparison on the variable of geographical spread has been made to make a point that to access them, any patient will have to travel very far, in the Jammu region.
How to address that? We believe that setting up smaller OGPs in remote areas, or providing oxygen concentrators in sufficient numbers can address this problem. Basically to give an easier access to life saving oxygen units in the remote locations too. This needs to be considered at the divisional level planning so that angularities these figures suggest are addressed. May be Divisional Commissioner Jammu can take cognisance and initiate action in this regard.
