By Neo Kolane
The rapidly dwindling supply of oxygen in hospitals has prompted government to purchase 200 cylinders of oxygen, but has so far received only 40 50kg cylinders on Sunday from Afrox Solutions, a South African based company.
African Oxygen Limited (Afrox) is sub-Saharan Africa’s market leader in gases and welding products. Afrox was founded in 1927, listed on the JSE in 1963, and has prospered by constantly meeting the needs of customers and developing solutions that add value to customers’ applications
Oxygen plants are found at three different places in the country, namely, Partners in Health (Botśabelo Hospital), Maluti Hospital and Scott Hospital.
Partners In health pumps eight cylinders and pumps one in 15 hours, Maluti six in 24 hours and Scott 10 cylinders in 24 hours.
Speaking to theReporter on Wednesday, the National COVID-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) risk communication manager, Baroane Phenethi stated that South Africans also needs oxygen because it is a big country and the COVID-19 has hit hard.
“Afrox Solutions will, however, supply Lesotho bit by bit. Oxygen supplies in the country are not sufficient at all.”