The Minister of Health, Mr. Semano Sekatle on Thursday officiated the launching of the Oxygen Plant worth M8 million at the event held at Berea Hospital in Teyateyaneng.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Sekatle said the Oxygen Plant came at the right time when the country is in dire need as COVID-19 cases increase at an alarming rate.
He, therefore, thanked MS Brookers Company for the construction of this plant, saying he is excited to officiate its launch.
“It is a big surprise to see people forgetting how desperate and overwhelmed they were when the pandemic erupted but today it looks like people are not abiding by protocols that have been eloquently and frequently outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” he commented.
Mr. Sekatle expressed a wish that Lesotho could own a bigger Oxygen Plant that would supply all hospitals countrywide not only certain targeted hospitals, saying this country is too big for one plant.
Also Speaking, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Richard Banda said COVID-19 remains a challenge to the country as the positivity rate increases daily thus further raising the number of people that are being hospitalised, saying it is a major concern to WHO.
He added that as positive cases increase, oxygen is going to be in demand, saying oxygen is the most critical therapeutic commodity that is required for the management of COVID-19.
He, therefore, commended the government for the efforts and leadership that it is providing in response to the pandemic.
Dr Banda, therefore, urged the public to adhere to COVID-19 regulations, saying the government and public are in this together hence will succeed together and that WHO will continue to support the government’s efforts in dealing with this pandemic.
Dr Banda therefore said he hopes that one day COVID-19 will go and this facility will be used for various diseases and the community of Berea will benefit from it.
Speaking on behalf of MS Brookers, the Managing Director, Mr. Seqobolla Letsie thanked the Minister of health for trusting MS Brookers for constructing this plant.
He said oxygen needs to be handled with caution as it is dangerous hence, his company will only allow only specialists to work on the plant saying they will make sure that good hygiene is maintained to avoid generating harmful oxygen.
He promised that his company will ensure that the plant produces the recommended oxygen.
According to NACOSEC, the COVID-19 rate of infection show that Maseru is the highest with 3 936 cases followed by Leribe with 2 292, while Berea is the third with 850 cases.