Anambra calls for legislation against use of industrial oxygen In hospitals

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Dr. Law Mefor. Anambra State Commissioner for Information

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By Madu Obi

The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, has stressed the need for legislation to stop use of industrial oxygen in hospitals in the state.

Exchanging views with the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant, Lady Nwamaka Arinze at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, Mefor expressed displeasure over the continued use of industrial oxygen in hospitals instead of pure medical oxygen, pointing out that it is a very dangerous thing.

Mefor said: "Since it has been proved that industrial oxygen is not good for human consumption, it should be a legislative issue. There should be a law against it and providing appropriate punishment.

This is because without legislation, our people will still go for what they consider cheap, regardless of the final outcome. That is one thing I noticed in the South East.

They go into wealth without morality. It's a very dangerous thing. You don't have to put people's lives in the line because you want extra or quick money.

I have seen it everywhere. Everywhere you turn, you see that high premium is placed on money over and above human lives.

The only way to really curb or contain this is through legislation. And of course, it doesn't stop at legislation. We also need to enforce the law because sometimes, the problem is not even the absence of law, but enforcement. And enforcement in Anambra State has its own challenges".

The commissioner assured that the Ministry of Information will partner the oxygen plant to sensitize the people on the dangers of using industrial oxygen in hospitals.

In her speech, the MD/CEO of Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant, Lady Arinze, said she has the mandate of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ensure that pure medical oxygen is made available, accessible and affordable to the people and decried the use of industrial oxygen in hospitals.

"We have been producing pure medical oxygen and we always have standby oxygen in case of emergency. The challenge we are having is convincing some doctors who I am sure, know that industrial oxygen is not good for human consumption.

You know that here in Nigeria, they only do autopsy for corpses in controversy. For others, if they are given industrial oxygen and they die, you still pay the doctor before you carry the corpse.

It is ours to build and not to destroy and it is ours to save lives in any little way we can," she said.