A free oxygen parlour has come up at GC Block community hall and promises respite to Covid patients unable to procure oxygen at home. Called GC Block Welfare Association Salt Lake Oxyzone, the centre is the initiative of three NGOs.
“The parlour will stay open from 8am to 8pm and will be able to cater to 10 patients a day on an average. In case of emergencies, however, we are open to providing oxygen after hours too,” says Jhumpa Ghosh, a resident of the block and director of Change Initiatives, one of the NGOs involved in the project.
Two beds have been set up at GC community hall and patients will have to come with their Covid-positive reports and doctor’s prescription about oxygen intake. The volunteers will then do the needful. Patients need not come wearing PPE suits as the volunteers will be wearing them.
The service is not being extended to non-Covid patients with respiratory problems. “There was a debate on this and we took the decision after consulting several doctors. They felt that despite our best efforts, non-Covid patients might contract the virus if they come here,” says Ghosh. Doctors living in the block have agreed to help out in case patients need further assistance.
“One needs to be clear about the fact that this is an emergency Covid response unit. It is not a substitute for a hospital,” says Gargi Bhattacharya, whose brainchild the Oxyzones are. The AD Block resident is associated with the NGOs Prameya Foundation and Echoes. “We are offering help to those who can benefit from oxygen support. Such patients can come to us instead of competing for hospital beds with more critical patients.”
The service was started on Monday and despite enquiries, no one had come in for oxygen till Wednesday. “This facility has reassured residents. We have had patients calling and confirming the availability of oxygen in case it comes to that. We hope this will reduce the panic and the problem of cylinder hoarding,” Ghosh said.
Four other Oxyzones have come up at Jadavpur, Sodepur and Kidderpore in the last fortnight and the team is working on war footing to start more in places like Bhowanipore and the Sundarbans. The cost of the Salt Lake centre has been more than Rs 1 lakh and the oxygen cylinder was purchased in the black market. “A small 10l cylinder now costs Rs 20,000. This is more than double the MRP,” says Bhattacharya.
The oxygen is free but patients need to replace the mask and disposable bed sheet they use at the centre. Available at medicine shops, these will cost between Rs 150 and 170.
“We have been clear from the start that oxygen would not be charged. Air must be free. If someone has the means, they are encouraged to make donations to sustain the project and make it available for others,” says Bhattacharya, who has worked in collaboration with other NGOs and received donations from residents of the city as well as NRIs.
To donate to the cause or to avail of the service, call 9831441868 or 9903899556.
