Ethiopian Public Health Institute Receives 3,000 oxygen Cylinders Support from WHO
ADDIS ABABA – The World Health Organization (WHO) delivered to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) 500 of the 3,000 oxygen cylinders procured for the institute to strengthen the oxygen capacity of health facilities providing COVID-19 treatment services.
“As COVID-19 continues to be a major public health concern causing severe illness and death in Ethiopia, it is imperative that we join hands with the government including through the provision of critical equipment and supplies to support every aspect of pandemic response,” said Dr. Jane Maina, Officer in Charge of the WHO Ethiopia Emergency Preparedness and Response program.
As countries go through waves of the pandemic, hospitalizations overwhelm health systems, putting an enormous burden on health workers and disrupting essential health services.
Patients needing critical care will have to wait in line to receive life-saving interventions due to shortages created from case surge.
The donation of oxygen cylinders aims to mitigate such overwhelming challenges to the Ethiopian health system and reduce complications and death from COVID-19 and other life-threatening conditions, according to the WHO.
Featured Image: EPHI and WHO staff at the handing over ceremony of 500 cylinders to EPHI as part of the donation of 3000 cylinders to support COVID-19 case management in Ethiopia [Photo WHO]
