Africa-Press – Mauritius. Four hundred Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment were donated by the High Commission of the Republic of South Africa to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, today, during a handing-over ceremony held at the Emmanuel Anquetil Building, in Port-Louis.
Each CPAP equipment is estimated to cost between USD 1,000 and USD 3,000. The 400 CPAP machines will be distributed to the New ENT Hospital and to the five Regional Hospitals in Mauritius as well as to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Rodrigues.
The High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Mauritius, Dr Hlamalani Nelly Manzini, symbolically presented the CPAP equipment to the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, during the event which was attended by several personalities.
In his address, Minister Jagutpal emphasised that the need for medical equipment especially for lung-related diseases is still very much felt and the donation of the CPAP equipment will certainly help patients to have easier access to this non-invasive therapy for lung diseases.
CPAP machines, he pointed out, are one of the most common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP therapy has emerged as a treatment option for improving oxygen levels in some people with COVID-19 regardless of whether they have obstructive sleep apnea or not, he observed.
Dr Jagutpal moreover underscored that COVID-19 can affect lung function and many people who are admitted to the hospital with the disease have low levels of oxygen in their blood, a condition called respiratory failure.
Doctors have several options to improve blood oxygen levels and have consequently explored the use of CPAP therapy and other non-invasive treatments to address low oxygen levels caused by COVID-19, he indicated.
The Minister further announced that out of the 400 CPAP machines received, 75 will be delivered to the New ENT Hospital; while the five Regional Hospitals in Mauritius will be equipped with 60 each; and 25 will be sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Rodrigues.
Dr Jagutpal likewise expressed appreciation to the Government of South Africa and all stakeholders involved for the donation. This gesture, he rejoiced, translates the excellent bilateral relationship between the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of South Africa.
For her part, the South African High-Commissioner recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a harsh reminder that disease knows no border as it ravaged even the wealthiest economies of the world.
It was countries such as Mauritius which set a sterling example on the outstanding management and containment of the pandemic, she highlighted. According to her, much as the pandemic seems to be under control, COVID-19 is still with us and people are still being hospitalised and some are losing their lives.
On that note, she called for one and all to continue practicing safety measures and to get inoculated with the booster dose to enhance the immune system.
As regards the donated CPAP equipment, she expressed hope that it will go a long way in improving health outcomes of patients with respiratory distress including those who are COVID-19 positive.
Dr Manzini moreover expressed gratitude to the Department of Health of South Africa for the generosity in releasing the equipment and the chairperson and founder of NGO ‘Gift for Givers’ and other stakeholders for facilitating this donation.
“We are looking forward in ensuring that further collaboration on high-tech medical and surgical specialist services and training are realised and that will take our relationship to the highest level”, she concluded.
CPAP machines are used to treat both obstructive and central sleep apnea. In both disorders, breathing is interrupted during the sleep cycle. This can occur hundreds of times in a single night, leading to a lack of oxygen and a higher risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other health concerns.
A CPAP machine helps keep an individual’s airways open by delivering continuous pressurised air through tubing into a mask that the patient wears while sleeping.
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