Meghalaya sets up oxygen generation plants
Meghalaya: Three civil hospitals in Tura, Nongpoh, and Jowai in Meghalaya now have emergency oxygen supply available, to provide intensive care treatment to the critically ill COVID-19 patients. The plants utilize pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology to produce up to 800 liters of oxygen per minute.
A total of eight oxygen generation plants are being installed in the Northeast states of Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura with the help of the Government of Japan and UNDP. The plants have the capacity to serve approximately 1,300 beds.
“Ensuring an uninterrupted supply of oxygen in the Hospitals of the State for treatment of COVID-19 patients has been a challenge for the Health Department. I express my sincere thanks to the Government of Japan and UNDP for the support extended to strengthen the State District Hospitals at Tura, Nongpoh, and Jowai by installing PSA Oxygen Plants which is critical during this time of the pandemic,” stated Sri Sampath Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Department.
To support the Government of India’s ongoing COVID-19 response, UNDP together with the Government of Japan’s support is strengthening the health and social protection systems, most importantly reviving the livelihoods, targeting the most vulnerable population.
“Japan is always happy to provide development assistance to the North East, where we feel a special historical and cultural closeness. I hope that these Oxygen Generating Plants will serve well and help as many people as possible for a long time to come,” stated His Excellency Mr. SUZUKI Satoshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of India.
“UNDP stands committed to supporting the government of India to fight COVID-19, in partnership with development partners and UN sister agencies. I am pleased that our several months of effort to provide end-to-end service, to install and set the oxygen generation plants up and running has come to fruition. Together, we can better prepare for future crises,” stated Shoko Noda, UNDP Resident Representative in India.