Billionaire Narendra Raval Pledges to Supply Free Oxygen to Kenya Gov’t Hospitals Until COVID-19 is Wiped Out
Billionaire Narendra Raval through his company Devki Steel Mills has pledged to supply free oxygen to Kenya government hospitals across the country until COVID-19 is eradicated.
Speaking at his Ruiru plant on Monday, Raval said he realized that his earlier donation of oxygen worth Sh100 million to government facilities was not sufficient.
“When the first wave came, we established that Covid-19 patients need oxygen to survive. That is when I set aside Sh100 million to donate oxygen. Later when the third wave came in, I realized that the donation will be cleared up in two months, leaving patients suffering. That is when I committed to giving free oxygen until Covid-19 is cleared out,” he told journalists.
The industrialist indicated that the company gives out Sh3 million worth of oxygen per day, with orders coming from nearly all county governments.
“There has been an enormous rush of oxygen from all the counties as well as small and big hospitals. The queue is long and we make sure they come in shifts and that each gets their supplies. We have scaled up production of oxygen 24 hours each day to meet the demand,” he added.
Raval said the company has ordered 1,000 oxygen cylinders following a shortage in the country. The cylinders will be delivered this week.
At the same time, he urged hospitals that have been receiving free oxygen from their company not to charge COVID-19 patients for the gas.
“If we give you free oxygen, we expect you to also not charge patients for their consumption. Like the Kiambu County, it has been treating Covid-19 patients for free,” he said.
Comments (6)
Pay it forward /tenda wema nenda zako.Ahsante sana on behalf of all those who get this disease through no fault of their own and have to end up in hospital.Too those who much is given more is expected.
A whole government cannot set up a machine to manufacture oxygen in Kenya? Such an industrial scale machine factory will cost only $250,000 usd about kshs 25 million. For how long will country be dependent on donations and importation of everything including oxygen? Nahuku wameiba na kuficha unused billions like they’ll be buried with them! Many of us Africans are really selfish! Wajinga sisi!!
I thought oxygen is free? Just install compressors in the hospital and forget about the cylinder BS. That's why the place is a shit hole because we react to current situation instead of a permanent solution.
Thanks...and thanks again for that last para reminding Mr Deep Pockets not to charge for what they get free of charge.
Oxygen cylinders Kill more than Save lives.
Si uende ukawanyambie.