Thirty-eight Primary Health Care Centres have been equipped with oxygen cylinders in Northern Bhar El Ghazel state.
The life-saving medical items were donated this week by AMERF African Health Organization.
Oxygen cylinder is an essential medical item used to care for patients at all levels of the healthcare system, including in surgery, trauma, heart failure, asthma, pneumonia and maternal and child care.
“We have been facing it hard to help those in need of oxygen support for so long because no one has ever brought these. In the past the entire country heard 4 oxygen cylinder use for saving and that was not enough,” said John Agany Deng, Deputy Director for Primary Health Care.
Health officials in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states have recently reported a surge in Pneumonia cases among children from zero months to five years.
Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with infection and fluid.
“Thanks to AMERF Africa Health for supporting us with 38 Oxygen to save the lives of patients,” Agany stated.
He disclosed that the equipment have been disbursed to Nyamlel, Malualkon and Gordhim Aweil civil hospital.
Health workers say one oxygen cylinder can be used for 10 days before refilling it with oxygen.
Last year, South Sudan installed its first oxygen plant at Juba Teaching Hospital as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The $980,000 plant funded by the African Development Fund included 240 oxygen cylinders, in addition to the procurement and construction costs.
It was initiated by the World Health Organisation to generate 2,500 litres of oxygen per day and the ability to refill around 72 D-type oxygen cylinders daily.