Many COVID-19 Self-Isolating Patients Die, Coordinating Minister Muhadjir Asks for Oxygen Cylinders to Be Available to the Health Center

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, asked every Puskesmas (Public Health Center) to provide oxygen cylinders that can be used for COVID-19 patients who are self-isolating.

This was conveyed by Coordinating Minister Muhadjir while carrying out monitoring and evaluation of the handling of COVID-19 in South Kalimantan. Because many self-isolatin patients die after experiencing a worsening and are taken to the hospital in severe condition.

"The death rate from self-isolation coming to the hospital is still high here. Learning from Java, I asked for small oxygen measuring 6 m3 to be distributed to the lowest level, namely at the Puskesmas level", said Muhadjir in an electronic message received, Jakarta, Thursday, August 5th.

He also appealed to companies that have spare oxygen cylinders to lend first to other manufacturers or vendors. The goal is that it can be used by the community to meet the needs at the lower level.

Furthermore, Muhadjir said that the increase in oxygen demand in hospitals was indeed increasing, not least in South Kalimantan. The former Minister of Education and Culture even said the increase in oxygen demand could reach 2 to 3 times last week.

One of the COVID-19 referral hospitals in South Kalimantan that experienced a spike in oxygen demand was Ulin Banjarmasin Hospital. However, this hospital has received a supply of 20 tons of liquid oxygen which is a grant from the Singapore Government for Indonesia.

"Alhamdulillah, oxygen assistance from Singapore has arrived. So this is real, not a promise. After that, the isotank can be used for oxygen from other sources and other sources will be ready to be filled", said Muhadjir.

He hopes that assistance from the Singapore Government can increase South Kalimantan's oxygen supply, which is currently still lacking 12 tons per day. Muhadjir also hopes that the production capacity of local industries will be increased to meet the domestic demand for oxygen.

He gave an example of PT Samator Gas Industri, which is located on A. Yani Street KM 23, Banjarmasin has 100 percent shifted oxygen production for health purposes, especially handling COVID-19 patients. In fact, not only in hospitals but also for people who are self-isolating at home.

According to reports, to meet the oxygen demand for South Kalimantan, cooperation with other provinces is also being carried out. For example, from Central Kalimantan (Central Kalimantan) or from Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

"Hopefully in South Kalimantan, there will not be an exponential increase (of COVID-19 cases, ed) so that the current availability of oxygen can be fulfilled. The Governor has also sent a transport ship for isotanks to Konawe to take oxygen from there, but it really needs a few days", he said.