Minister of Health, Abderrahmane Benbouzid, announced Thursday, the upcoming acquisition of at least 6,000 new oxygen concentrators, stressing the need to work “hard and quietly” to counter the current alarming situation and come out of the crisis “with little human losses.”
During an evaluation meeting, by video conference, with local Directors of Health, the Minister said that “the major problem that Algerian hospitals are currently facing is the lack of oxygen and not the availability of beds,” urging “cooperation between all to overcome this crisis and comfort the citizen with no stress and pessimistic speech.
An operation to acquire 6,000 oxygen concentrators “is not easy given the significant demand around the world, especially by the major powers”.
In this regard, the Minister called on health directors to seize hotels and other infrastructure for the reception of covid-19 patients who do not require more than 10 liters of oxygen, and this, to allow hospitals to focus on the care of more difficult and complicated cases.
The Minister also announced contacts with the Algerian ambassadors in Italy, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain, for the acquisition of concentrators and generators of oxygen from producers of this vital material “as soon as possible.
A first set of 1,050 personal oxygen concentrators had arrived on Sunday, while another 9,000 units are expected to be delivered in two weeks.
