Mariental hospital’s oxygen plant still down

Repairs to the main oxygen plant at Mariental State Hospital are still underway more than three months after an explosion damaged the facility’s oxygen system, with the hospital relying on cylinders to meet patients’ needs.

Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao told the National Assembly on Thursday that a new company had been brought in to address the plant’s underlying problems after earlier maintenance efforts failed to resolve repeated breakdowns.

She was responding to questions raised by Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) MP Lilani Brinkman. Brinkman had told parliament that the ministry was spending about N$100 000 on interim oxygen supplies and raised concerns about reports of patients dying amid the shortages.

Luvindao said the plant was damaged in an explosion on 6 June, after which the supplier was called to assess and address the problem.

However, the plant continued to experience operational problems. A quote for major servicing was issued in July, and on 30 July the ministry decided to pursue a longer-term solution.

Work ongoing

The procurement committee subsequently considered the request, with amendments made in August before a service-level agreement was concluded on 21 August.

Luvindao said the new company was expected to begin major servicing during the week of 14 September. The work is now underway, but the contractor is waiting for parts that have been ordered.

"The hospital has been using oxygen cylinders, which have been supplied since 19 June and replenished according to demand,” the minister told lawmakers, to ensure continuity of oxygen supply until the main plant is restored.

Patients requiring continuous oxygen during the acute phase of their condition are being admitted to the isolation ward, where part of the respiratory unit is supported by a smaller-capacity oxygen plant, she added.

Luvindao also disputed reports that patients had died because of a lack of oxygen at the hospital.

She cited a 9 September case in which a patient who arrived at the outpatient department was assessed by a registered nurse and provided with oxygen, nebulisation and hydrocortisone using oxygen cylinders.

The patient’s medical notes found that the death was linked to another medical condition and not an absence of oxygen, Luvindao said.