Oxygen Concentrator Bank breathes life in Covid-19 patients

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<strong>Unlike other banks, which deal in money, this Oxygen Concentrator Bank is focussed on life! This bank was launched about a week back and so far 350 coronavirus-infected patients have availed services from this bank.</strong></p>
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Set up by the Delhi Government, the device is provided free of cost for those who are discharged from the Covid designated Government and private facilities after recovery and are prescribed domiciliary oxygen support or short term oxygen therapy (STOT) at home.</p>
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Also read: Post-discharge Delhi Covid-19 patients will get oxygen concentrators from the Government if required</p>
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According to the data provided by the officials, 52 Covid patients have borrowed oxygen concentrators in the West district, till Thursday while in North and New Delhi, 44 and 41 persons in home isolation took the devices. In East Delhi so far 16 patients have availed of this facility.</p>
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In other districts, the number of beneficiaries are 32 from South; 27 from Northwest, 33 from Northeast, 38 from Southwest, 21 from Southeast, 25 from Shahdara and 22 from Central Delhi.</p>
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The Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal had last Saturday made this announcement of establishing the oxygen concentrator bank.</p>
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Patients may call 1031 and register their request to procure to borrow the device.</p>
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The concentrator is loaned for a maximum of two months, after which they are to be returned to the bank. Speaking to New Indian Express, an official said: “So far 351 patients have taken advantage of the initiative and 20 of them have returned the device after recovery. If the oxygen therapy is required after two months for which the concentrator is needed, then the patient is re-evaluated by a physician and is allowed to keep the concentrators for more time.”</p>
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Once the concentrator is allotted, a technical team visits and explains in detail about the device to the patient and other family members about the handling and functioning.</p>
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On review of the request by the doctors, the oxygen concentrator is delivered to the patient's home with the help of the OLA Foundation and Give India.</p>
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A reserve of 2,635 concentrators has been created with each district allocated about 200 devices. At present the Northeast district has 294 and West district has 260 machines in stock.</p>