Kundapura: Taluk hospital's oxygen unit ready

Kundapura: The construction of an oxygen production unit in the taluk hospital here has been completed and will be inaugurated by Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on August 19.

The unit was supposed to be completed three months ago but the supply of machines was delayed due to COVID-19-induced lockdown.

The unit, costing Rs 60 lakhs, was built using the corporate CSR funds of GAIL. It will be managed by a company based in Noida.

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lakshmi Som Bangera Maternity Hospital within the taluk hospital premises, which has a reputation for delivering the highest number of babies of COVID-19 pregnant women, was converted into the COVID-19 ward.

Now a new mother and child hospital has been sanctioned for the taluk.

“Since a unit established here soaks and stores oxygen from the air, there will be no need to get oxygen cylinders. However, cylinders will be kept for emergency use,” Dr Robert Rebello, Surgeon at the hospital said.