SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Authorities in the Kurdistan Region’s Raparin administration warned on Monday that the health situation in the area is “very bad” due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Director of Health in Raparin Dr. Dyar Ibrahim said the number of coronavirus cases had risen in the administration.
“Our condition is bad and we need medical equipment,” Ibrahim told Esta Media Network on Monday.
“We need oxygen. Besides the medical equipment, we have a shortage of oxygen and we lack oxygen supply system,” Ibrahim noted.
Esta reported on Sunday that many patients in overwhelmed Zhyan hospital in Raparin were lying on the floor due to a surge in coronavirus infections.
The health official confirmed the report, saying it occurred because they lacked oxygen supply system and that it was “hard” for the hospital to provide oxygen beds to the patients.
“The oxygen is provided to us outside the administration,” he continued.
Health minister Saman Barznji on Monday visited the administration and Zhyan hospital where COVID-19 patients receive treatment to follow up the health situation.
Ibrahim said the minister had promised them that an oxygen plant would be built in Raparin and an oxygen supply system would be installed in the hospital.
After Esta’s report on the hospital’s condition, General Directorate of Health in Sulaimani also decided to sent ambulances to Raparin to transfer part of the patients to the hospitals in Sulaimani city.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Sunday called on citizens to follow medical guidelines and to receive COVID-19 vaccines as the virus still “poses a threat” to people’s lives.
As of Monday, the Kurdistan Region has recorded 350,987 coronavirus cases and 6,159 deaths, according to figures released by the health ministry.
