Cross River State’s government has received an advanced oxygen gas plant supplied by the Government of Canada and IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of the IHS Towers Group, as part of a collaborative effort with UNICEF.
This collaboration aims to greatly increase access to important medical oxygen, which is critical for the lives of children and other vulnerable groups. The initiative is coming two days after a comparable plant was handed over to the Kaduna State government.
These modern oxygen generation plants are designed to deliver a consistent and abundant supply of oxygen, which is critical for patients with respiratory illnesses, post-surgical care, intensive care, and those who require supplementary oxygen. By manufacturing oxygen on-site, hospitals in Cross River and Kaduna states can reduce their reliance on external suppliers, resulting in increased autonomy, cost-efficiency, and reduced risk of supply chain disruptions, ensuring uninterrupted patient care.
Recognising the urgent need to bridge critical healthcare gaps, UNICEF, in partnership with the Government of Canada and IHS Nigeria, sponsored the building and handover of two oxygen gas plants, which address key healthcare needs.
“Medical oxygen is an essential commodity in both emergency and routine medical applications because every tissue in the body requires it. Its importance was globally appreciated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, its availability has become a very important indicator for measuring the health system’s preparedness to contain health emergencies. I am delighted by this laudable support from UNICEF and its donors in establishing this medical oxygen plant in Cross River State. We will complement this breakthrough achievement in ensuring the sustainability of medical oxygen across the state,” the Executive Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Edet Otu, said.
The UNICEF representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, said she was honoured to witness “this historic moment.”
“The handover of these newly built oxygen generation plants marks a critical development in our mission to provide medical-grade oxygen to healthcare facilities. These plants will ensure a continuous and reliable supply of life-saving oxygen, essential for the treatment of our most vulnerable, particularly children,” she stated.
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