Portuguese equipment worth Rs. 40 lakhs was donated by Azim Premji Foundation
Udupi: In a prompt response to the severe oxygen shortage experienced by the country during Covid the second wave, Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital, Udupi has upgraded its oxygen supply systems to help avert such a crisis in the future.
A new Oxygen Generator Plant installed at Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital, Udupi was inaugurated by Shri Jayakar Shetty, General Manager, Badagabettu Credit Cooperative Society, Udupi on Monday, December 06, 2021. Smt. Amrita Krishnamurthy, Councillor, Shri K. V. Nagaraja, Assistant Drug Controller and Dr Suresh Kudva, President, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Karnataka State Branch were the Guests of Honour. Dr Sushil Jathanna, Director, Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital presided over the function.
The new PSA Oxygen Generator is imported from Portugal at a cost of Rs. 40 lakhs and built to international standards. Azim Premji Foundation has donated the entire amount towards its procurement and installation. It has the capacity to produce 30 jumbo cylinders of oxygen per day and also has an automatic changeover system if more oxygen is needed from additional cylinders. There is a separate oxygen backup for the ICU. The Mission Hospital now has oxygen pipelines to all the wards, casualty, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), Labour theatre and Operation Theatre (OT). In addition, the hospital has ten small individual oxygen concentrators and two high flow nasal oxygen systems. The new improvements will enable Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital to provide the highest standard of care for both Covid and non-Covid patients.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest Shri Jayakar Shetty said he has been associated with Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital for over thirty years but has seen it transformed into a dynamic and modern hospital over the last six years after the arrival of Dr Sushil Jathanna as Director. He lauded the efforts of the doctors and staff of Mission Hospital for their dedication, compassion and commitment to serve, especially during the Covid crisis. The inauguration of the Oxygen Generator Plant in a private hospital is a great boon to the people of Udupi, especially as the hospital will be entering its centenary year next year. All the facilities have also improved significantly and now patients are very happy to be treated in Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital, he said.
Presiding over the function, Dr Sushil Jathanna, Director, Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital, thanked the Azim Premji Foundation for its generous contribution toward the establishment of the Oxygen Generator Plant and said that the hospital has also invested in ensuring that all the wards and rooms are provided with piped oxygen. He informed that a four bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU) has been established in addition to a six bedded Covid ICU and another four-bedded non-Covid ICU.
“Mission Hospital is ready to deal with any increase in admissions if a Covid third wave occurs,” Dr Jathanna said. He urged the public to take more responsibility for their own health by adopting Covid appropriate behaviour, such as wearing masks, use of sanitisers and maintaining social distance. He also requested all those who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible and urged the Central Government to ensure that all healthcare and frontline workers receive the booster dose.
Guests of Honour Smt. Amrita Krishnamurthy, Councillor, Shri K. V. Nagaraja, Assistant Drug Controller and Dr. Suresh Kudva, President, IMA, Karnataka State Branch spoke on the occasion and wished the Mission Hospital success in its future endeavours. Dr Ganesh Kamath, Senior Medical Officer, welcomed the gathering and Sri Sadananda proposed the vote of thanks.
