Macedonia has launched a hypoxic treatment for its citizens, which could help them avoid the coronavirus pandemic.
The country’s Ministry of Health has launched the programme, which it said would give people with a “very low” oxygen level, a “vague” feeling and other symptoms including a fever.
It also said the treatment would allow people with the most severe symptoms to be treated, which will be tested on the first of every month.
The program is designed to combat a lack of information on how to treat hypokalaemia, which has been linked to the coronabids.
It is a condition that can be caused by low oxygen levels in the blood.
Macedonia has been dealing with an unprecedented spike in cases linked to coronavids in recent weeks.
More than 60,000 people have been diagnosed with hypokaliaemia, and it is believed the numbers are likely to rise as more cases are reported.
The programme was first announced in September.
A spokeswoman for the ministry told Al Jazeera the goal was to help people with “very mild hypokalympic shock” and to reduce their risks of complications.
The ministry said there was currently no vaccine available.
She said the aim of the programme was to “help the citizens who have hypokaline shock recover, and help the patients who are most at risk to suffer complications.”
The Ministry of Public Health and Health and Social Affairs (MPHAS) is coordinating the programme.MPHAs chief of staff, Elmar Bekic, said the program would be offered in two phases: phase one aimed at “the prevention of acute hypokaliemia”, and phase two aimed at improving the healthcare of people with hypokinetic shock.
The spokeswoman said it would not affect the healthcare provided to people with other conditions.
“There are people who will be treated with this treatment in phase one, and there will be people who have their blood pressure checked, there will also be people with kidney problems and those who have diabetes,” she said.
The minister added that it was “a very safe and effective treatment” and the MPHAS had also launched a similar program in Romania, where the coronaviid spike has been the most significant.
“The program will be in Romania for the duration of the coronvirus,” she added.
There are more than 10,000 patients who have been treated so far, according to MPHAs spokeswoman Elmar Kisevic.
A case of hypokalisemia has been recorded in a young person in Romania.
The new programme will only be offered to people who are already being treated, she said, adding that the number of patients being treated would be limited.
Migrants in Greece were also affected by the coronavisis spike in Europe.
Thousands of migrants, many from the Middle East, have been arriving in Greece, including from Italy, in search of better living conditions, but some are also struggling with the coronivirus pandemics, which have been blamed on a lack on health care.
Migrant advocates have criticised Macedonia for treating migrants with an unnecessary measure.
“If we are to stop this coronavid pandemic, we must protect the lives of migrants,” wrote activist Zara Ersi.
