The initiative was the brainchild of Hoang Tuan Anh, director of the PHG Lock Company in Ho Chi Minh City who invented the so-called “rice ATMs” which offered free rice for Covid-19-affected people last year.
HCM City is witnessing a sharp rise in Covid-19 patients with many in worsening conditions. A large number of local Covid-19 cases now have to stay at home for self-treatment. Meanwhile, many hospitals have been overwhelmed.
The first oxygen ATM launched in HCM City amid Covid-19
Tuan Anh’s company, the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union have worked together on the oxygen ATM project.
According to Tuan Anh, the project has established quick response teams to transport oxygen tanks to patients. The Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association subsidises the oxygen tanks and had called for donations.
At present, the project is operated from 6 am to 5 pm with 90 oxygen tanks of eight litres each, covering districts 7, 8, 9, Tan Phu, Binh Tan and Binh Chanh.
He has planned to set up 24 oxygen tank stations for supplying the needy across the city in the coming time. Each station would have hundreds of oxygen tanks.
Every day, tanks that run out of oxygen will be taken to be refilled.
Dang Hong Anh, chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association said that currently, many oxygen suppliers are experiencing overloading due to rocketing demand. So fees for transportation have been exorbitantly pushed up.
It is also impossible for Covid-19 patients to go out and collect oxygen tanks when they are put under quarantine.
Later, the oxygen ATM group will arrange more vehicles to bring oxygen tanks to hospitals. They also exchange oxygen tanks at patients’ houses. People who do not have an oxygen tank or the poor can borrow oxygen tanks free of charge.
The project has set a target to increase oxygen tank supplies to 5,000-10,000 for the free exchange for hospitals.
When HCM City’s pandemic situation improves, the project would support other localities if needed.
People in HCM City who want to exchange oxygen tanks can call (+84)796555564.
