Tanzania Installs Oxygen Production Plants in Hospitals to Serve COVID-19 Patients

Tanzania has installed oxygen production plants in seven referral hospitals to serve ICU wards treating COVID-19 patients.

The country’s Health Ministry said each of the installed plants will produce at least 200 medical oxygen cylinders a day.

The World Bank-backed project signifies another change of COVID-19 policies by the Tanzania government since the death of President Pombe Magufuli in March.

Last month, Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu formed a technical committee to examine the state of COVID-19 in the country, shifting Tanzania’s approach to the pandemic from the controversial stances of her predecessor.

On Sunday, Suluhu also urged Tanzanians to strictly observe public health guidelines for COVID-19 prevention, including mask-wearing and washing hands.

Magufuli, who succumbed to a heart condition, was Africa’s most prominent COVID-19 skeptic.

He constantly downplayed the threat of COVID-19 and rooted for prayers, steam therapy, and other traditional methods to tame the pandemic.

Magufuli also denounced COVID-19 vaccines as part of a Western conspiracy and warned Tanzanians against taking the jabs blindly or wearing masks.

Tanzania stopped updating its coronavirus data in May 2020.