Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda.
Photography by Peter Casamento
Oxygen Declaration by the Doctors of Tomorrow.
March 2022
We, the future doctors of the world, are calling upon leaders of nations and the United Nations to work together to invest in access to medical oxygen so that no patient suffers anywhere because a hospital does not have oxygen.
It is strikingly clear that too many low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) still do not have the medical oxygen resources needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers around the world are being forced to make heart-breaking decisions about which patients can and cannot receive medical oxygen; many hundreds of thousands have died simply from lack of access to this life-saving treatment; including now in Ukraine where war and the pandemic have created a double tragedy.
LMICs currently require up to 25,000,000 cubic metres of oxygen every day - the equivalent of 3.6 million large cylinders - just to treat patients suffering with COVID-19. This pandemic has tragically exposed the consequences of decades of underinvestment in medical oxygen on a massive scale. COVID-19 has officially killed six million people with the real death toll likely five times higher. Many of these deaths are the result of lack of oxygen access.This is on top of the annual 2.5 million deaths from other causes of pneumonia, many among newborns and children, not to mention the burden of malaria, sepsis and chronic conditions like COPD where oxygen is a critical life-saving medicine.
The delayed response to addressing the oxygen access gap with adequate supplies of fit-for-purpose oxygen and the trained health workers, and biomedical engineers needed to operate and maintain the equipment, is an avoidable tragedy for each and every hospital that is being forced to ration oxygen, to their patients gasping for air, and to the families struggling to get the best care for their loved one. These families are often asked to find oxygen themselves.
We, current medical students from universities all over the world, demand a better future for all patients and their health workers in low-resource settings globally. By investing in oxygen now, you will not only save countless lives from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but also build a foundation of essential medicine beyond the pandemic. As the number of patients rise and the number of oxygen tanks fall, the burden often falls on clinicians who must decide who receives treatment; who will live and who will die.
As your future doctors we are speaking out for those who are fighting for every breath in countries across the globe as the pandemic continues to rage. All human beings deserve the right to breathe, to live, and to have access to oxygen. In the time it has taken you to read this Declaration, 50 people have died from COVID-19 and 45 from non-COVID pneumonia. Many of those are children and newborns whose lives could have been saved simply by having access to the medical oxygen that we take for granted in high income countries. We implore you to take action to finance the COVID-19 Emergency Oxygen Response – let’s #ACTogether and #InvestInOxygen. Having to decide who gets the oxygen is not a call any doctor anywhere in the world should have to make. We urge you to ACT NOW by signing this Declaration.
SIGNATORIES
These Doctors of Tomorrow have signed
Name |
University Medical School |
Signature |
Wencke Vonderhagen |
Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich, Faculty of Medicine |
Wencke Vonderhagen |
Itzel Bustos Villalobos |
Nagoya University, Graduate school of medicine |
Itzel Bustos Villalobos |
Melissa Rossi |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Melissa Rossi |
Celeste Gobbi |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Celeste Gobbi |
Michele Bacchiega |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Michele Bacchiega |
Tarik Ziyad Tarik SHWAISH |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Tarik Ziyad Tarik SHWAISH |
Giullia Labanca Lima |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Giullia Labanca Lima |
Nefeli Stavroula Papastathopoulou |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Nefeli Stavroula Papastathopoulou |
Giulia Zaghini |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Giulia Zaghini |
Sara Fusco |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Sara Fusco |
Federico Roncuzzi |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Federico Roncuzzi |
Mustafa Dagli |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Mustafa Dagli |
Patricia Angela Sibal |
Nagoya University, School of Science, Division of Biological Science |
Patricia Angela Alvero Sibal |
Robin Paul Bishop |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Robin Paul Bishop |
Onur Turhal |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Onur Turhal |
Federica Giofrè |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Federica Giofrè |
Ioana Diana Alexa |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Ioana Diana Alexa |
Sara Gamberi |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Sara Gamberi |
Lorenzo Lamanna |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Lorenzo Lamanna |
Nguyen Thanh Tam |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Nguyen Thanh Tam |
Ayushi saini |
Alma Mater Studiorum |
Ayushi saini |
Carla Fiorella Sulca Agama |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Carla Fiorella Sulca Agama |
Eleonora Chisena |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Eleonora Chisena |
Matilde Chisena |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna,, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Matilde Chisena |
Michelle Leech |
Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences |
Michelle T Leech |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Jasmine Moses |
|
Michael Liu |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Michael Liu |
Jordan Zalcman |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Jordan Zalcman |
Molly McLaughlin |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Molly McLaughlin |
Yash Agrawal |
University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine and Health, Australia |
Yash Agrawal |
Lachlan Faktor |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Lachlan Faktor |
Sarah Butler |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Sarah Butler |
Connor Fisher |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Connor Fisher |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Mara Kyranakis |
|
Rachel Niesen |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Rachel Niesen |
Isabelle Nehme |
James Cook University, Australia |
Isabelle Nehme |
Jasmine Davis |
The University of Melbourne, Australia |
Jasmine Davis |
Jonathan Vu |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Jonathan Vu |
Jessica Yu |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Jessica Yu |
Dana Boden |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Dana Boden |
Isabel Lee |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Isabel Lee |
Mihan De Silva |
University of Western Australia, Faculty of Medicine |
Mihan De Silva |
Lachlan Coman |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Lachlan Coman |
Dayna Duncan |
University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine and Health, Australia |
Dayna Duncan |
Suwandi Dewapura |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Suwandi Dewapura |
Ethan Fernandes |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Ethan Fernandes |
Madeline Green |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Madeline Green |
Natasha Rasaratnam |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Natasha Rasaratnam |
Yash Patwardhan |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Yash Patwardhan |
Baneen Alrubayi |
Western Sydney University, School of Medicine, Australia |
Baneen Alrubayi |
Jade Guitera |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Jade Guitera |
Anson Yang |
James Cook University medical school Australia |
Anson Yang |
Natsaha Harris |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, United Kingdom |
Natasha Harris |
Xenobia Elshaw |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, united kinddom |
Xenobia Elshaw |
Hamsa Ali |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, united Kingdom |
Hamsa Ali |
Manisha Viaraven |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, United Kingdom |
Manisha Viaraven |
Tulsi patel |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, united Kingdom |
Tulsi patel |
Shivam Chauhan |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, United kinddom |
Shivam Chauhan |
Julia Clochek |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, United kingdom |
Julia Clochek |
Isobel Walker |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, United Kingdom |
Isobel Walker |
Phillipa Simpson |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, united Kingdom |
Phillipa Simpson |
Haya Memon |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, united Kingdom |
Haya Memon |
Ravinder Kaur |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, united Kingdom |
Ravinder Kaur |
Hana Herman |
Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Germany |
Hana Herman |
Sofia Boscher |
Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Germany |
Sofia Boscher |
Mihail Gorgiev |
Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Germany |
Mihail Gorgiev |
Alice Pik Shan Kong |
Chinese University Hong Kong |
Alice Pik Shan Kong |
Kathy Chan |
Chinese University Hong Kong |
Kathy Chan |
Ji Yoon Baik |
Korea University Medical School |
Ji Yoon Baik |
Yee Ting li |
Chinese University Hong Kong |
Yee Ting li |
Seeyoung Song |
Korea University Medical School |
Seeyoung Song |
Wai Shan Leung |
Chinese University Hong Kong |
Wai Shan Leung |
Shing Him chu |
Chinese University Hong Kong |
Shing Him chu |
Sangwoo Lee |
Korea University Medical School |
Sangwoo Lee |
Jeeyeon Lee |
Korea University Medical School |
Jeeyeon Lee |
Patricia Sebal |
Nagoya University, Medical school Japan |
Patricia Sebal |
KM Saif Ur Raman |
Nagoya University,Medical school Japan |
KM Saif Ur Raman |
Young Mee Lee |
Korea University Medical School |
Young Mee Lee |
Hyunmi Park |
Korea University Medical School |
Hyunmi Park |
Jeon Hyebin |
Korea University Medical School |
Jeon Hyebin |
Luca Poletti |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Luca Poletti |
Fabrizio De ponti |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Fabrizio De Ponti |
Cheuk Kin Kwan |
Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Cheuk Kin Kwan |
Gillian Doody |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, United Kingdom |
Gillian Doody |
Mario Muratai |
Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery |
Mario Muratai |
Kinoshita Yukako |
Nagoya University, Medical school Japan |
Kinoshita Yukako |
Jaewon Hyun |
Korea University School of Medicine |
Jaewon Hyun |
Kristina Peduru-Arachchige |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Kristina Peduru-Arachchige |
Andrew Downie |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Andrew Downie |
Alexander Gerber |
Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich, Faculty of Medicine, Germany |
Alexander Gerber |
Sepand Malek |
Nottingham University School of Medicine, United Kingdom |
Sepand malek |
Emma Jane Davis |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Emma Jane Davis |
Khoa Cao |
Monash University School of Medicine |
Khoa Cao |
Alysha Bagster |
University of Newcastle, Joint Medical Program, Australia |
Alysha Bagster |
Louisa He |
Monash University School of Medicine Australia |
Louisa He |
Jacqueline Bredhauer |
Monash University School of Medicine, Australia |
Jacqueline Bredhauer |
Henry Kocatekin |
University of Newcastle, Joint Medical Program, Australia |
Henry Kocatekin |
Pragya Chalisgaonkar |
University of New South Wales, Australia |
Pragya Chalisgaonkar |
Alistair Lau |
James Cook University, Australia |
Alistair Lau |
Akpabio Nseobong Charles Junior |
University of Ibadan Medical School, Nigeria. |
Akpabio Nseobong Junior. |
Let us know that you’ve signed the Declaration and help raise awareness.
Once you have signed the declaration, you can share this post on Twitter to help raise awareness of the oxygen access gap and gain the attention of leaders of nations and the United Nations! Make sure you tag @FREO2_AU and @Stop_Pneumonia when you share.
