As from now on, there will be 3 private companies involved in the import and production of medical oxygen to support the Ministry of Health in the face of this upsurge in Covid-19 cases. The Ministry of Health is in the process of building up its stock of medical oxygen to be prepared for a significant demand of oxygen, and this is in line with its ‘Preparedness Plan’. Hence, the urgent written request to Reunion Island, made on Thursday 18th November and revealed by the leader of the Opposition in Parliament on Friday 19th November.
Three suppliers in total
Previously, there was only Samlo Koyenko Steel Co Ltd to provide for the daily supply of medical oxygen to hospitals. The company was selected following an exercise of tenders and has signed its contract on 30 June 2020, which will be valid until June 2022. With the worsening pandemic crisis, there will now be 3 companies in charge of the oxygen supply. The other two private companies were approached by the Ministry and have agreed to join the team. They held a second meeting on Saturday 20th November at the Ministry of Health to draw up the plan for the production and distribution of medical oxygen in hospitals for the period of November and December. Rajiv Gowreessoo, the Managing Director of Samlo Koyenko Steel Co Ltd stated that “there is no shortage of oxygen at the moment. We are in the process of planning the distribution of medical oxygen as from today to the end of December. We are also currently following up on shipments from countries where the ministry has ordered Iso Tanks, namely Singapore, South Africa and Reunion. So the three of us are giving all our capacities to the government”.
The emergency option is Reunion
To explain the urgent request made in writing to the French Ambassador to Mauritius, Florence Caussé-Tissier, Dr Soobaraj Sok Appadoo, the Director of ENT Hospital has pointed out that “the best option in an emergency situation is to count on the countries closest to us geographically like Reunion Island, and it was also chosen because of the availability of oxygen. There are different types of oxygen available and we use them. But liquid oxygen is easier to store. ENT already has a medical oxygen generator, the Pressure Swing Absorption Oxygen Generator. However, with the high demand, its use is more frequent as well as its maintenance. Therefore, sourcing it from Reunion was the easiest option”.
So the Barracuda, which was ready to sail on Friday 19th November with a crew of 30 duly vaccinated officers, returned and disembarked a first cargo on the morning of Saturday 20th November. The stock requested, as stipulated in the letter, was a 12 ton iso-tank capable of holding 20 tons of oxygen and measuring 20 feet to supplement the oxygen needs of Mauritian hospitals. Twenty tons is the average for a two-day supply of oxygen to our hospitals. The whole operation was under the supervision of the Honorary Consulate of Mauritius in Reunion.
Paul Bérenger ‘shocked
He is shocked that Mauritius had to ask for help from Reunion for medical oxygen when, as he quoted during his press conference on Saturday morning, the same oxygen is “produced and exported to Reunion Island… by Mauritius. This is what happens when you give contracts to wrong persons to produce oxygen“, said a distraught Paul Berenger about the pandemic management in the country.
