Oxygen concentrators breathe life into remote Dilli-Dilli clinic

’MAKERESEMESE LETUKA

QUTHING – Nestled in the district of Quthing, the remote rural village of Motsekuoa Ha Selebalo poses formidable challenges for pregnant women, who endure arduous journeys lasting four to five hours on foot to reach the nearest health facility. In a recent incident, a 23-year-old patient embarked on her journey from Motsekuoa at 3 am but it was not until late afternoon that she arrived at the Dilli-Dilli Health Centre, on a journey punctuated by necessary rest breaks along the challenging 30-kilometre route. Relebohile Sebusi, a dedicated midwife at the Dilli-Dilli Health Centre, expressed grave concern over the patient’s ordeal.

“The extensive distance travelled heightened the risk for the patient, who entered active labour upon arrival. Furthermore, the delivery itself lasted an additional two hours, resulting in the birth of a baby with meconium staining, a condition where the baby passes stool in the womb and ingests it,” she said. She said the presence of meconium particles in the amniotic fluid posed significant risks to the newborn, potentially leading to respiratory distress and infection. However, Sebusi said, with the aid of an oxygen concentrator, the infant swiftly regained vitality and today thrives at nine months old.

Mampolokeng Nkoja, a seasoned midwife at the Quthing Hospital, underscores the pivotal role oxygen concentrators play in the maternity ward for both infants and new mothers. She stressed the necessity of having ample oxygen concentrators on standby, especially during peak hours, to ensure timely intervention for deliveries requiring resuscitation. Echoing Nkoja’s sentiments, Pulane Setholela, a midwife nurse at Moeketsane Health Centre in Mokhotlong, highlighted the critical assistance oxygen concentrators provide during childbirth, significantly improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

In previous years, the Mokhotlong Hospital grappled with the challenge of replenishing its oxygen supply weekly from the distant Motebang Hospital, navigating treacherous mountainous terrain, particularly challenging during winter snowstorms. Thanks to vital health commodities procured by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with generous support from the Chinese government, the need for weekly travel has been eradicated, marking a significant milestone in rural healthcare accessibility.

In 2021, the Government of China and the UNFPA forged an agreement to provide healthcare assistance to Lesotho, enhancing the country’s capacity to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and HIV infections and improving basic health services.

Operating within the framework of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, supported by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), this initiative has been instrumental in procuring essential medical supplies, including oxygen concentrators, personal protective equipment, and sexual and reproductive health commodities, ensuring safer and more effective healthcare delivery.

Valued at US$500,000, (approximately M9,462,075) this collaborative effort between the Government of China, the Ministry of Health, and UNFPA has fortified Lesotho’s healthcare infrastructure, providing frontline healthcare workers with the necessary tools and resources to deliver care safely and effectively.