By Joy Mbachi

Dr Law Mefor, Anambra Commissioner for Information, has called for legislation to stop the use of industrial oxygen in hospitals across the country saying that it is dangerous to people’s health.

Mefor made the call during a courtesy visit to Ms Nwamaka Arinze, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant in Awka on Tuesday.

Mefor expressed displeasure over the continued use of industrial oxygen in hospitals instead of pure medical oxygen, pointing out that it was very dangerous for humans.

He said, “Since it has been proven that industrial oxygen is not good for human consumption, it should be a legislative issue.

“There should be a law against it, providing a clear punishment for its usage.

“This is because without legislation, our people will still go for what they consider cheap regardless of the final outcome,” the commissioner said.

According to him, every penny must be earned in a decent way as it is abnormal and evil to put people’s lives on the line because of quest to get extra or quick money.

Mefor said that the practice was rampart and apt for legislation to check such deadly practice to be in place with severe punishment.

He said that the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) closed down Bridgehead Drug Market due to the sale of fake, expired and banned drugs.

The commissioner said that some traders preferred to place high premium on volume of money acquired over human lives.

“The only way to really curb this menace is through legislation and enforcement of the law.

 “The problem is not even the absence of law but enforcement and enforcement in Anambra State has its own challenges,” he said.

The commissioner promised that the Ministry of Information would partner with the office to sensitise the public to the dangers of using industrial oxygen in hospitals.

Earlier, Arinze the MD/CEO, Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, supported the fight against industrial oxygen.

She said that the mandate of Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra was to ensure that pure medical oxygen was made available, accessible and affordable to all Anambra residents.

Arinze decried the use of industrial oxygen in hospitals and supported the call of the commissioner on legislation and enforcement of law to guide the practice.

“I thank God we have been producing pure medical oxygen. We always have standby oxygen in case of emergency.

“The challenge we are having is trying to educate some doctors who I know that they know that industrial oxygen is not good for human consumption.

“You know here in Nigeria, they only do autopsy for corpses in controversy, if they are given industrial oxygen and they die, they still pay the doctor before they carry the corpse.

“It is ours to build and not to destroy. It is ours to save lives in any little way we can,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)