Donation of equipment to help Fiji prepare for the COVID-19 Pandemic
APRIL 2020 – We are pleased to announce the donation of 50 new oxygen concentrators and 30 oximeters to help patients in Fiji with acute respiratory distress as a result of infection with the SARS-COV-2 virus. Fiji’s Ministry of Health & Medical Services will lead distribution of the new equipment, as part of the government’s measures to minimise the impact of COVID-19.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 19% of those who develop a COVID-19 respiratory-tract infection will have severe disease that requires hospital treatment. Oxygen therapy is an essential treatment for patients with severe COVID-19.
Subsequent waves of the COVID-19 disease in Fiji are not unexpected. A well-equipped healthcare system, with oxygen therapy, will strengthen confidence and resilience of the population affected by the disease. This partnership ensures that more people will have better access to life-saving oxygen.
This donation is made in partnership with Fiji’s Ministry of Health & Medical Services, The University of Auckland, and Azimut360, and has been generously funded by the ANZ Fiji500 event, Armacup, and employees of FIJI Water and Neptune through their Wonderful Giving Programme.
We sincerely thank everyone who came together to make this essential, life-saving contribution.
WHAT DO OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS & OXIMETERS DO?
- Oxygen concentrators filter out nitrogen from ambient air to supply high-quality oxygen for patients to breathe.
- Oximeters measure the level of oxygen in the blood and are used to identify patients who are most in need of urgent oxygen treatment.