PUNE: The Pune division has reported the highest number of oxygen generation plants in the state, according to the economic survey report 2021-22. During the second wave of Covid-19 last year, many patients and their families struggled as oxygen shortage was witnessed at many hospitals. However, as a preventive measure, the Pune division is now fully prepared to generate oxygen for patients in need.
About the oxygen generation in the Pune division, Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, district collector, said that they had come a long way during this pandemic. “Two years of the pandemic were very difficult for each one of us. We have carried out rigorous planning for one-and-a-half month during the second wave and monitored government as well as private hospitals during this time for oxygen supply. In rural Pune, there are around 37 plants that we have for oxygen generation and out of these, 36 have been established through corporate social responsibility (CSR),” said Deshmukh. He added that the pandemic has readied them for any situation.
“With the collective front of the health department, task force and world health organisation (WHO), we were able to overcome all hurdles. In tertiary hospitals like Aundh and Sassoon general hospital, the oxygen generation plants are used on a daily basis. And in other plants in rural areas, we have trained officials very well to take care of the plant,” said Deshmukh.
Dr Sanjeev Wavare, assistant health chief at the health department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said that since the pandemic started, PMC has come a long way in strengthening its health infrastructure. “Today after three waves of Covid-19, we are strong enough to face any situation. Before the pandemic struck, we had only one oxygen tank which had a capacity of one kilo-litre. In Covid, we developed 118 kilo-litre of oxygen for medicinal use. PMC at present has 60,000 litre per minute of oxygen generation. We have achieved all of this during the pandemic,” said Dr Wavare.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Sanjeev Wavare, assistant health chief at the health department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said that since the pandemic started, PMC has come a long way in strengthening its health infrastructure. “Today after three waves of Covid-19, we are strong enough to face any situation. Before the pandemic struck, we had only one oxygen tank which had a capacity of one kilo-litre. In Covid, we developed 118 kilo-litre of oxygen for medicinal use. PMC at present has 60,000 litre per minute of oxygen generation. We have achieved all of this during the pandemic,” said Dr Wavare.
{{/usCountry}}He added that now that these oxygen generation plants are with the PMC, the civic body will have to maintain them. “Now that cases of Covid-19 are less, these plants will need to be maintained. For that, we will be issuing tenders for interested parties to maintain these oxygen generation plants,” said Wavare.