The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Government of Rivers State, IHS Nigeria, and the Government of Canada has handed over cutting-edge medical oxygen plant and oxygen delivery devices to the General Hospital in Eleme.
UNICEF announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
The Fund explained that this significant milestone represents a major advancement in the ongoing efforts to improve maternal, newborn, and child health in Rivers State and across Nigeria.
It further stated that this initiative followed a comprehensive, nationwide assessment of oxygen needs in health facilities across all 36+1 states, conducted jointly with the Federal Ministry of Health (and CHAI in select states).
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate while handing presenting the Plant said, “the handover of this newly built Oxygen Generation Plant marks a crucial advancement in our mission to supply medical-grade oxygen to healthcare facilities.
“It is a profound honor and privilege to stand before you today on the achievement of this significant milestone. We gather here to officially hand over the medical oxygen plant, along with the oxygen delivery devices, at the General Hospital, Eleme, to the Rivers State Government.
“This represents a remarkable step forward in our shared commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child health in Rivers State and across Nigeria.”
The medical oxygen plant installation is a groundbreaking achievement, providing a critical life-saving intervention for newborns and children suffering from pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. It stands as a beacon of innovation and resilience, promising to save countless lives, improve health outcomes, and serve as a model for similar initiatives across the country.
On his part, CEO of IHS Towers, Said Darwish stated that the initiative was aimed at improving healthcare accessibility and delivery of services across host communities:
“We are proud to support UNICEF and contribute to an initiative which is designed to strengthen healthcare services and help support the Federal Ministry of Health meet demands for effective oxygen therapy in Nigeria. The initiative aims to improve healthcare accessibility and delivery of services and strengthen treatments for illnesses across our host communities”.
Similarly, the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, James Christoff said, ” a steady and reliable supply of medical oxygen contributes to the successful treatment of patients at all levels of the health care system. Medical oxygen is an essential life-saving medicine in surgery, as well as for trauma, heart failure, asthma, pneumonia, and maternal and childcare. Canada is proud to partner with UNICEF, IHS and the Government of Rivers State on this important initiative, which is leading to strengthened health systems in Nigeria”.
According to recent data, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of neonatal mortality globally. Investments in healthcare infrastructure, such as the facility being commissioned today, are crucial in reversing this trend and demonstrate a firm commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
