Chronic illness patients urge MA Electricity Works (MEW) to expedite power restorations during blackouts
In a series of appeals, citizens are urging the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy to prioritise the needs of patients with chronic illnesses during power outages. Any prolonged interruption in electricity supply can have severe, even life-threatening, consequences for these patients who depend on medical devices.
Elderly patients confined to hospital beds or air mattresses, as well as those who rely on oxygen devices and require uninterrupted air conditioning, are particularly vulnerable during power outages. Prolonged outages can create distressing situations, especially during hot weather conditions.
Recent healthcare backup power practices focus on the integration of Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and emergency generators designed for rapid activation and sustained operation. UPS devices act as an instant battery backup, keeping critical life-support equipment operational without interruption upon mains failure. Automatic emergency generators are essential to sustain power once a prolonged outage is detected.
The key steps include the use of UPS, automatic emergency generators, regular maintenance and testing, supplemental generator rental, and prioritization of critical systems. Ensuring the reliability of backup generators and UPS is critical, as routine maintenance and testing prevent failures during outages.
However, the lack of a backup generator during power outages can exacerbate the difficulties faced by citizens who rely on medical devices. One citizen shared his experience of a recent power outage at 11 p.m. in his neighbourhood that lasted five hours without a backup generator, leaving him in distress due to the lack of air conditioning and oxygen supply amid the heat.
The appeals emphasize the need for quick action by the ministry to restore electricity during power outages. The citizen expressed frustration, questioning if authorities are waiting for a disaster to happen before addressing the harm caused to vulnerable patients by extended power cuts.
The issue of power outages and their impact on patients with chronic illnesses has been reported by Al-Rai daily. The citizen's appeals underscore the need for authorities to prioritize the needs of patients with chronic illnesses during power outages.
Despite the lack of information about the availability of a temporary generator or the repair timeline for the damaged transformer, the citizen urged the ministry to take proactive steps to consider the health conditions of patients dependent on continuous power, especially during hot weather. The citizen emphasized the critical importance of timely restoration of electricity in emergencies.
In adapting these best practices to local conditions and regulations, rapid automatic switchovers, sufficient fuel reserves, and maintenance protocols would be required to guarantee uninterrupted power for vulnerable patients during outages.
Science, in response to medical-conditions and chronic diseases, has developed health-and-wellness solutions to address power outage issues. For instance, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and emergency generators are vital for sustaining life-support equipment during outages. In light of this, prioritizing the needs of patients with chronic illnesses during power outages, as emphasized by the appeals, is essential for health-and-wellness and to avoid distressing situations, particularly in hot weather.
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