Thursday March 4, 2021
SOURCE: WHO Somalia
Mogadishu (HOL) - Hormuud Salaam Foundation and The World Health Organization (WHO) have donated oxygen cylinders to Somalia to help with the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the Horn of Africa country.
The WHO has donated 200 oxygen cylinders to Somalia. It tweeted that the uptick in cases has led to more hospitalizations and deaths.
"Due to upsurge of COVID19 cases & increased hospitalization, a critical shortage of medical oxygen continued in main hospitals, Banadir. Private companies supplying medical oxygen have run out of empty cylinders to refill. WHO comes forward to save lives & protect vulnerable."
In addition to the cylinders, the WHO is providing 50 oxygen regulators with humidifiers. Each cylinder can provide the user with 1400 cubic meters of oxygen daily.
Hormuud Salaam Foundation, the non-profit division of Hormuud and Salaam Bank, announced on Wednesday that it would be providing an additional 1,500 oxygen cylinders. The Foundation previously donated 1,000 cylinders on February 23.
Somalia took additional measures to contain the second wave of COVID-19, including banning large gatherings for a month and closing schools, government officers and sporting facilities for two weeks. The Health Minister, Fawziya Abikar Nur, urges residents to wear masks and observe a two-meter distance when out in public.
Somalia has recorded 209 new cases of COVID-19, a sharp rise compared to relatively tame numbers in recent months. There are 7,727 confirmed cases in the country that have resulted in 260 confirmed deaths.