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210963
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 06:32
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https://oananews.org//node/210963
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Japan provides Oxygen Therapy equipment to 10 district hospitals
VIENTIANE,OCT.03 (KPL)- Japanese Ambassador to the Lao PDR Junko YOKOTA handed-over equipment for Oxygen Therapy to Minister of Health Dr. Eksavang VONGVICHIT.
A hand-over ceremony of Oxygen Therapy Pilot Project supported by Japanese Government and implemented by Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) was held on 28th September at the Ministry of Health attended by Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Eksavang VONGVICHIT, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Junko YOKOTA, WHO representative Liu YUNGUO and officials concerned.
A sum of 200,000 US dollars has been spent by the Japanese Government for the installation of the oxygen system and in the development of training materials for 10 district hospitals in five provinces, namely, Luangnamtha, Oudomsay, Savannakhet, Sekong and Champasack. Five of the selected 10 district hospitals (Sing district hospital of Louangnamtha province, Beng district hospital and Houn district hospital of Oudomxay province, Champasack district hospital and Khong district hospital in Champasack province) were constructed in the previous years under the Japan’s Grant Assistance.
A total of 10 pulse oximeters, 40 oxygen concentrators, 20 flow splitters, 120 SpO2 sensors, 1 SpO2 performance analyzer and other accompanying accessories are already in place. In addition, the fund will cover the fees of consultants from partnering university. In many developing countries, pneumonia has been responsible for an estimate of up to 50 % of death in the under-5 age group. As some of you may be aware, insufficient oxygen in the blood is the major fatal complication of pneumonia.
In Lao PDR, the lack of appropriate oxygen therapy has been identified as a major concern by the health authorities. There are a few district hospitals which have pulse oximetry, however, most of the hospitals uses a less efficient oxygen cylinder system where the approximate costs per patient is estimated at 20,000 Lao Kip per hour and it will total up to 260,000 Lao Kip per day for every individual patient.
According to the WHO, oxygen concentrators which are introduced with this pilot project is a more cost efficient way of delivering oxygen. In addition mortality rates from pneumonia can be reduced by up to 35% with the systematic use of this equipment. This means that the project will support Lao PDR in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 “ To reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five”. Since the oxygen therapy service will be provided free of charge to patients, it is hoped that the people in these 10 districts under the five provinces will be informed of this pilot project and be able to benefit from this newly started oxygen therapy.
This project will contribute to the human resource development for more than 100 local medical personnel in term of proper oxygen therapy administering and the maintenance of the equipment. Japanese Ambassador to the Lao PDR said that “without the staff that can effectively manage and maintain the new equipment, the overall goal of this pilot project cannot be attained. I hope that all the medical personnel will make their best effort to acquire the skill required on the appropriate procedure of administering oxygen therapy to effectively reduce mortality in these target districts.”The Government of Japan has so far contributed to approximately 80 projects such as construction of health centers in villages and district hospitals, technical assistance for improving maternal and child health care services, capacity improvement for health management of local communities, human resources development and institutional building related to the health and medical care field. The Government of Japan so far provided approximately US$ 40 million in total through various Official Development Assistance (ODA) schemes and will contribute to the health sector as a large part of this.
A hand-over ceremony of Oxygen Therapy Pilot Project supported by Japanese Government and implemented by Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) was held on 28th September at the Ministry of Health attended by Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Eksavang VONGVICHIT, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Junko YOKOTA, WHO representative Liu YUNGUO and officials concerned.
A sum of 200,000 US dollars has been spent by the Japanese Government for the installation of the oxygen system and in the development of training materials for 10 district hospitals in five provinces, namely, Luangnamtha, Oudomsay, Savannakhet, Sekong and Champasack. Five of the selected 10 district hospitals (Sing district hospital of Louangnamtha province, Beng district hospital and Houn district hospital of Oudomxay province, Champasack district hospital and Khong district hospital in Champasack province) were constructed in the previous years under the Japan’s Grant Assistance.
A total of 10 pulse oximeters, 40 oxygen concentrators, 20 flow splitters, 120 SpO2 sensors, 1 SpO2 performance analyzer and other accompanying accessories are already in place. In addition, the fund will cover the fees of consultants from partnering university. In many developing countries, pneumonia has been responsible for an estimate of up to 50 % of death in the under-5 age group. As some of you may be aware, insufficient oxygen in the blood is the major fatal complication of pneumonia.
In Lao PDR, the lack of appropriate oxygen therapy has been identified as a major concern by the health authorities. There are a few district hospitals which have pulse oximetry, however, most of the hospitals uses a less efficient oxygen cylinder system where the approximate costs per patient is estimated at 20,000 Lao Kip per hour and it will total up to 260,000 Lao Kip per day for every individual patient.
According to the WHO, oxygen concentrators which are introduced with this pilot project is a more cost efficient way of delivering oxygen. In addition mortality rates from pneumonia can be reduced by up to 35% with the systematic use of this equipment. This means that the project will support Lao PDR in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 “ To reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five”. Since the oxygen therapy service will be provided free of charge to patients, it is hoped that the people in these 10 districts under the five provinces will be informed of this pilot project and be able to benefit from this newly started oxygen therapy.
This project will contribute to the human resource development for more than 100 local medical personnel in term of proper oxygen therapy administering and the maintenance of the equipment. Japanese Ambassador to the Lao PDR said that “without the staff that can effectively manage and maintain the new equipment, the overall goal of this pilot project cannot be attained. I hope that all the medical personnel will make their best effort to acquire the skill required on the appropriate procedure of administering oxygen therapy to effectively reduce mortality in these target districts.”The Government of Japan has so far contributed to approximately 80 projects such as construction of health centers in villages and district hospitals, technical assistance for improving maternal and child health care services, capacity improvement for health management of local communities, human resources development and institutional building related to the health and medical care field. The Government of Japan so far provided approximately US$ 40 million in total through various Official Development Assistance (ODA) schemes and will contribute to the health sector as a large part of this.
