There Is No Shortage of Oxygen in BBH, Says Commissioner

News Desk

Rawalpindi: There is no shortage of oxygen and other essential medical facilities at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, said Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Laiqat Ali Chatha.

He said this after his surprise visit to the BBH amid concerns raised by some patients and staff about a potential oxygen shortage.
The Commissioner visited the pediatric and pediatric neonatal ICU of Benazir Bhutto Hospital, where oxygen was being provided to more than 150 children.

Chatha inquired with the patients and their attendants about the services being provided, especially the supply of oxygen. Almost all parents expressed their satisfaction with the supply of oxygen and other facilities.

He said that there is no shortage of oxygen supply in any department of the hospital, especially the paediatric department. He said that there is a lot of rush in the paeds department, which is natural due to the winter season and the closure of Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi.

However, even in the morning, several beds with oxygen ports are lying empty in the pediatric emergency ward. The commissioner said that an inquiry committee has already been formed to investigate the issue of false news about a lack of oxygen.

He further said that almost all the media channels have visited the hospital and seen the actual situation themselves. We hope that they will bring the facts to the public and reduce their anxiety and concerns. Chatha said that our teams are fully active, working even in this rush situation.

Doctors of the Holy Family have also been posted to Benazir Hospital to save the patients from trouble. He said that the Chief Minister has given 2 billion rupees to Rawalpindi, with which every government hospital will be equipped with modern facilities.
While briefing on behalf of the hospital administration, MS Dr Tahir Rizvi said that the VIE tank worth 14,000 litres in BBH provides central oxygen to the entire hospital.

Apart from this, a VIE tank worth 4000 litres is available as backup, and 85 large cylinders filled with oxygen are always available in the hospital as backup. He said that 24-hour oxygen supply is ensured in the main emergency and paediatric departments, including other operation theatres, the surgical ICU, the medical ICU, and the paediatric ICU.

So there is no question of the non-supply of oxygen in any department. He further said that the news of the death of a 10-month-old girl due to a lack of oxygen is completely wrong and misinterpreted.

The girl was suffering from double pneumonia and measles and was kept on a ventilator for about 12 hours, where both oxygen and air were being provided, but she could not survive due to the severity of the disease and her young age.