Farmers Movement Archive

Farmer outfit stages protest at CMO office for inadequate supply of oxygen

Bijnor: Bhartiya Kisan Union has threatened a massive agitation if oxygen supply is not regulated. Hundreds of BKU activists staged a dharna at the office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) alleging inadequate supply of oxygen to district hospitals and private institutions. "Whatever the low number of deaths exhibited by the administration, the reality is evident from the number of burning pyres on the ghats of Ganga. People are dying for the want of oxygen and the administration is not able to supply adequate oxygen", said Digambar Singh, state chief of the youth wing of BKU. Singh further alleged, "There are half a dozen oxygen refilling units in the district. But only two are refilling oxygen cylinders. A health officer is getting his cut for it. When patients demand oxygen, doctors say there’s a shortage. Patients are dying and the administration is claiming there’s sufficient oxygen in the hospitals. We demand that proper facilities be given to the patients." According to officials, 11,015 patients have so far tested positive for Covid-19 in Bijnor. Out of them, 8,566 have been discharged after treatment. There are still 2,371 active cases and 78 patients died of the infection. There are 160 beds reserved for Covid-19 patients in the district hospital and the community health centres. Out of the 8,566 active cases, around 2,117 patients are in home isolation. Many of them gasping for breath due to lack of oxygen cylinders, and even medicine. However, nodal officer for Covid-19, P R Nayar said, "We need around 60 oxygen cylinders for Covid patients admitted in the district hospital, and community and primary health centres. In addition, we have some oxygen concentrators. We have enough oxygen. No patient is dying here due to lack of oxygen." In addition to people suffering from Covid, many of patients suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases are also facing hardships as there isn’t enough supply of oxygen in the district

The Times of India

2021-05-06

Meerut