Coronavirus: B5 PLUS offers free medical oxygen to public hospitals

B5 Plus Ltd, manufacturers of steel products and producers of industrial gases has offered to provide medical oxygen to government hospitals across the country as the nations continues to fight the novel Coronavirus.

The company says it would for the month of April supply any public hospital that request for medical oxygen free of charge to meet the oxygen demand of hospitals and alleviate the plight of patients.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Mike Thakwani who disclosed this to Graphic Online  at Kpone indicated that the company has already begun importing key medical supplies such as nose masks, temperature guns, face protecting gears which will be donated to selected hospitals to will assist in the fight against COVID-19.

“We reckon that at this time, there will be a lot of demand for oxygen for patients and we are committed to offer it free to any government hospital once the requests are made within the month of April," he sad

Household support

Mr Thakwani was speaking on the sidelines of an event where the company distributed food items to some households in selected communities where the company operated from.

The items include rice, cooking oil, soap, canned fish, and packs of toilet rolls.

More than 600 households in the beneficiary communities namely Lakpleku, Tsopoli, Old and New Ningo, Prampram, Dawhenya and Kpone were supported with the critical needs in the wake of the restricted movement imposed by the government following the COVID-19.outbreak.

Mr Thakwani explained that though these communities were not under lockdown, they were reeling under the unintended consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable, hence the intervention.

He said apart from the communities, the 4,000 members of staff engaged by the company have also received food packages to unable them cope during the period of partial lockdown while the company remains shut.

Corporate support

He urged other corporate organisations to support the government’s effort to protect the most vulnerable in the society as the nation continues to battle the disease.

Mr Thakwani commended the government of Ghana for its management of the situation so far and called on everyone to abide by the prescribed hand washing and social distancing protocols among others, to prevent a further spread of the virus.

“The pandemic is surely having a huge impact on our operations as we have had to suspend work however with the situation on hand at present, it is not about looking at the future but how we handle the current situation and how we can come out of it. I am hundred per cent sure that Ghana will weather this storm and come out stronger. So for now, we must all support the fight” he said.

Unintended impact

The District Chief Executive for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Jonathan Doku expressed appreciation to the company for the gesture.

He said since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak and the partial lockdown in Tema, Ashaiman and Accra, sources of income for community members though not under lockdown, have dried up.

“Our people are mainly farmers ad traders who travel to these areas to sell their produce but with the restriction of movement to these areas, a lot of people have been affected hence the intervention to cushion them is commendable," he said.

Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh