Don't blame us for oxygen crisis-INTAKA JEMIMA BEUKESWINDHOEK
Intaka Technology Namibia, owned by Knowledge Katti, has denied that its oxygen systems installed in local hospitals caused the recent shortage of oxygen supply amid the third wave of Covid-19 cases.
In fact, Intaka Technology public relations person Mbali Mokoena claims that they have saved the government approximately N$1 billion since being awarded the oxygen contract in 2005.
“We have done so by being the cheapest producer of medical oxygen in Namibia; our latest proposal for bulk medical oxygen costs N$9.43 per kg compared to around N$20.70 per kg for our competitors.
“The state continues to enjoy the benefits of our competitive pricing as we have not implemented an increase in the 16 years that we have been supplying bulk oxygen to government hospitals,” she said.
‘Upgrades rejected’
Mokoena added that Intaka had tried repeatedly to engage the ministry on upgrading Namibia’s medical gas infrastructure.
According to Mokoena, between 2011 and 2015 they repeatedly requested to extend the medical gas pipelines and upgrade oxygen cylinder manifolds to comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, which had found them wanting.
However, these requests were allegedly declined by the health ministry.
“[We offered] to conduct a study in 2016, at our own cost, into the medical gas infrastructure at the government hospitals which indicated an overall shortfall of 2 300 oxygen points, requiring some 15.8 km of oxygen pipeline.
“The MOHSS acknowledged in writing they were aware of the problem. [We also offered] to extend the oxygen pipeline network at Omaruru Hospital, as a test case, at our own cost in February 2017, an offer declined by the MOHSS,” the statement read.
Intaka has a contract to supply 120 tonnes of medical oxygen a month to Namibia’s 33 government hospitals. Intaka does so using the PSA process and conveying the oxygen into the gas pipelines which feed the oxygen points in hospitals.
Not enough
Afrox and Air Liquide are contracted to supply compressed oxygen (in cylinders) to government hospitals.
Two months ago, facing its deadliest health crisis ever, the health ministry reached out to Afrox Namibia for increased oxygen supplies after Intaka experienced capacity problems.
At the time, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe told Namibian Sun that with the increased hospital admissions they needed more oxygen than the gas-generating systems could produce.
“So, we needed to supplement that. We also have a gas bank and we replenish it in order to supplement, but there are certain parts which are not linked to the existing infrastructure and are supplied with gas bottles,” he said.
Attempts to obtain comment from the health ministry proved futile.
jemima@namibiansun.com