Oxygen scarcity kills thousands at home in Indonesia
Over 66,000 people have succumbed to #COVID19 in Indonesia as the country struggles to get oxygen and essential medicines for severely ill patients.
Nabaasa Innocent 
Hospitals in Indonesia are overwhelmed and have advised patients to receive covid19 care including oxygen at home.
Dr. Erni Herdiani, the head of a health clinic in the city told Aljazeera that the medics have become accustomed to finding patients dead in their homes.
“Right now, there is a lot of loss [of life] at home. Sometimes, we have the report of someone who died, when we check the body, they are positive,” she said.
Dr. Erni believes the official government figures, which put the death toll at more than 66,000, are an underestimate.
Citizens are now in a desperate search for oxygen from stores to care for their loved ones at home as overwhelmed hospitals turn people away.
Walking around the streets of Bekasi, Indonesia, there is a small oxygen store in South Jakarta where dozens of people are lining up for the chance to purchase an oxygen cylinder to save the life of their loved one
In the Indonesian capital, oxygen is an increasingly precious commodity as the country battles a relentless surge in cases of COVID-19.
“I had trouble finding oxygen last night. I went to five places, including this store and a big medicine market but all ran out,” a lady confessed.
“We went to the health center… they said to give oxygen at home while waiting for the hospital … but we have been waiting for two days and there’s no hospital referral.” another gentleman added.
Dr Erni Herdiani,the head of the Lemah Abang Health Clinic in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, while talking to Aljazeera said there is urgent need for oxygen tanks, oxygen refills, and medicines like redeliver to treat severe conditions.
The Indonesian health minister has now instructed oxygen producers to redirect their efforts towards providing medical rather than industrial oxygen.
