The Lagos State Government has denied reports that coronavirus patients are charged for using oxygen across its isolation centres.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known on Sunday as part of the state’s Covid-19 updates for the month of January.
The number of coronavirus patients requiring oxygen to survive surged fivefolds at one of the main hospitals in the Nigerian commercial hub, as the second wave of the pandemic hits the nation’s biggest city.
Oxygen demand increased to 350 six-litre cylinders per day from 70 cylinders at the Yaba Mainland Hospital, Sanwo-Olu had said.
The state said it had opened discussions with vaccine manufacturers.
The Federal Government also approved the release of N6.45 billion to set up oxygen production plants in 38 sites to help treat patients as authorities contend with a sharp rise in cases.
Despite the apparent shortage, Sanwo-Olu insists that oxygen is free in the state.
“The Government wishes to reiterate that Oxygen is free at all Lagos State-owned Covid-19 Treatment Centers,” he said.
“The Lagos State Government does not charge for the use of Oxygen in its Centres.
“Considering that oxygen demand has spiked to between 300 and 400 cylinders per day across state-owned treatment facilities, the Government is working hard to ensure that availability and supply are very easily able to meet and even surpass this demand.
“To this end, a second oxygen plant is under construction at the Gbagada General Hospital, and will come on-stream within the next seven days. It is expected that this will boost the in-house capacity and availability of oxygen across all State Government managed treatment centres.”
Lagos has recorded almost 50,000 cases, representing nearly one-third of Nigeria’s over 130,000 infections.
