The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with IHS Towers and Canadian Government, has handed over a Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA), Oxygen Plant to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun.
This facility, according to the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Office, Ms.Celine Lafoucriere, was put in place to address the challenge of non-availability of oxygen to combat acute respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, hypoxemia and others among others.
Lafoucriere said the oxygen plant is close to the needs of the people, especially the newborns and pregnant women suffering from respiratory illnesses.
She said, “Oxygen is life and a life-saving medical gas used for treating respiratory illnesses and supporting various healthcare provisions such as emergency obstetric care, surgery, and anesthesia.
“It is critical to improving health outcomes and reducing mortality due to pneumonia by 35%, yet, seldom available and often expensive. With limited access to supplemental oxygen, the line between life and death is blurred for critically ill patients with pneumonia and severe COVID-19 symptoms. This situation is, unfortunately, the reality for many.
“As an organisation with a mandate for children, we are excited at the turn of events today.”
She explained that the goal of UNICEF is to reach a level in the country, not just Ogun State, whereby, no child dies from preventable causes beyond pneumonia and other hypoxemia disorders.
” All children have the right to reach their full potential in health and well-being. UNICEF is fully committed to working with governments at all levels to provide quality healthcare accessible and affordable to every mother and every child,” Lafoucriere added.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Oluwabunmi Fatungase, said the establishment of the plant has further elevated the tertiary health institution to a first-class healthcare delivery facility in Ogun, Nigeria and beyond.
She noted that though sited in the OOUTH, the first state-owned oxygen plant in the country would serve all health institutions within the state and outside the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker,said the plant would be producing 300 litres of oxygen per minute.
She added that plans were underway to establish three oxygen plants in Abeokuta, one Ota and Ijebu -Ode respectively by the state government.
The Ogun Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, appreciated UNICEF for donating the plant to the state, promising that the facility will be adequately utilised.
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