KATH denies oxygen shortage report
The authorities at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi have stated that the hospital has enough oxygen to supply all patients who may need it.
They have, accordingly, denied rumours that the facility has run short of oxygen for its patients at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Directorate.
Daily consumption
The Head of the Mechanical and Engineering Unit of the hospital, Mr Gregory Peters, told the Daily Graphic that KATH had not run out of oxygen, even though the hospital’s plants were old and did not produce the entire daily requirement.
He explained that the two plants produced about 400 cubic metres of oxygen daily, while the daily consumption of the hospital was about 600 cubic metres.
Mr Peters said the hospital made up for the shortfall from the market and ensured that there was enough back up all the time to make up for the shortfall.
Production
He said a plant produced 18 cubic metres of oxygen per hour and “a plant works 24 hours a day”.
During a tour of the facility, particularly the A&E Directorate, it was seen that all the oxygen outlets were working and all the patients who needed oxygen had it.
The A&E Directorate has three wards: the Yellow, Red and Green wards.
It was carved out of the Surgical Directorate in 2007 and is responsible for handling all emergency cases that go to the hospital.