First-of-its-kind breathing bank to come up in Jodhpur to mitigate the prevailing oxygen crisis

India's first-of-its-kind breathing bank will be coming up in Rajasthan's Jodhpur to mitigate the prevailing oxygen crisis for the COVID patients in the state.

Working on a model similar to that of the blood bank, the breathing bank will supply portable oxygen machines to COVID patients on a rental basis.

The idea behind setting up such a breathing bank was of Nirmal Gehlot, a philanthropist, who had asked other social workers to join hands in the drive.

Since then, people have been pouring all their help and also donated funds to buy 95 machines till date.

"We aim to buy 500 machines and by Saturday, around 10 machines will reach Jodhpur," said Gehlot, adding that they are trying to get other machines at the earliest.

Gehlot had seen his mother battling for oxygen last year and recently one of his known friends died because of the oxygen crisis. Hence, he thought to work out something different to tackle this crisis.

This machine will be rented out to the needy at Rs 100 daily. Rental will be collected to ensure the needy returns the machine.

A portable oxygen machine costs around Rs 40,000 and collects air around and separates it from nitrogen to give five-litre oxygen each minute.

This can be given to patients via pipeline.

With this machine, patients will be given oxygen at their houses and hence hospitals' burden will be lessened.