By Chioma Obinna & Adeola Badru

The Governor of Oyo State, Eng. Seyi Makinde on Wednesday unveiled the first solarized Medical Oxygen Pressure Swing Adsorption Plant with level 2 Newborn Unit at the Jericho Specialist Hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PSA medical oxygen plant is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, IHS Towers, the Governments of Norway and Canada as well as Bills & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Unveiling the plant, the governor who applauded UNICEF, IHS, and federal ministry of health, said the Oyo state used the COVID-19 as a fulcrum to develop the facility.

He said: “Although, no one is praying for another outbreak of COVID-19, but it is always better to prepare and there is no better way to be prepared than to have a facility like this.”

Speaking on the roadmap, he said, “We may not be remembered for building roads, but we will be remembered for building strong institutions that will ensure that Oyo state runs predictably for so many years after our tenure.

Handing over the project, UNICEF Representative Ms. Cristian Munduate lauded Oyo State for  recording a triple milestone towards improved maternal and newborn health care Nigeria.

These include the handover of the solarized medical oxygen plant, the Level 2 Newborn Unit and launch of the Oyo State Strategy for the Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities, Munduate said.

She restated that the three historic event represents a remarkable step forward in their shared commitment to improving maternal and child health in Oyo State and across Nigeria.

According to Munduate, the installation of the solarized medical oxygen plant is a groundbreaking achievement as oxygen is a critical life-saving intervention, particularly for newborns and children suffering from pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.

She said: “By harnessing solar power, we ensure reliable and sustainable oxygen supply, even in times of limited electricity. This plant is a beacon of innovation and resilience, promising to save countless lives and provide a model for similar initiatives across the country.

“Additionally, the Level 2 Newborn Unit established here at Jericho Specialist Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed by trained healthcare professionals dedicated to providing specialized care for premature and critically ill newborns.

“This unit will significantly reduce neonatal mortality rates and improve health outcomes for our youngest and most vulnerable population.”

On the launch of Oyo State Strategy for the Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities, she said the strategy is a comprehensive roadmap designed to ensure that every health facility in the state is equipped with the necessary resources to provide medical oxygen.

“It outlines the steps for capacity building, infrastructure development, supply chain management, and sustainable financing mechanisms.  These facilities including the strategy is critical in our efforts to improve health outcomes and is aligned with UNICEF’s 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.”

She said the significance of the developments cannot be overstated as according to recent data, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of neonatal mortality globally.

Munduate noted that Investments in healthcare infrastructure and strategic planning, like the facilities being commissioned were crucial in reversing the trend.

She expressed optimism that the facilities to the Oyo State Government, we are cowill be maintained and utilized effectively to maximize their impact.

She UNICEF remain committed to supporting the Oyo government through continuous capacity building, provision of technical expertise, and monitoring progress.

Extending her heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Oyo State, IHS Nigeria, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Governments of Canada and Norway for this partnership, she said: “This is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal – ensuring the health and well-being of every child and mother in this state.

In her welcome address, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi said the unveiling of the solarized Medical Oxygen Pressure Swing Adsorption Plant in Nigeria, with level 2 Newborn Unit and the Oyo State Strategy for the scale-up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities (2024-2028) stand as a testament to the power of collaboration, to dedication, and the impact of collective efforts in addressing critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure.

Ajetunmobi explained that medical oxygen is a lifesaving essential medicine used to treat patients at all levels of the healthcare system from intensive care, to newborn and child health care, anaesthetic, and surgical services to outpatient services.

Noting that the clinical indication for oxygen therapy is hypoxaemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood), she added that conditions that can cause Hypoxaemia include bronchial asthma, pneumonia, heart disease, anaemia, sepsis, severe malaria, obstetric complications amongst others.

Ajetunmobi further disclosed that Hypoxaemia alone accounts for an estimated 120,000 deaths annually among children in Nigeria.

The State Commissioner said prompt diagnosis of hypoxaemia and treatment was critical to care and improved patient outcomes.

She recalled that at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the federal and state governments in collaboration with donors and development partners ramped up investments to increase access to safe and efficient medical oxygen in the country.

In line with these investments, the UNICEF Country Representative, said that Nigeria should plan to build up the oxygen supply eco-system not only to respond to current needs but to future pandemies.

“The strategy for the Scale-up of Medical Oxygen is envisioned to ensure that all patients with hypoxaemia are properly diagnosed and treated with medical oxygen and that no patient dies from hypoxaemia.

“The availability of high-quality and functional oxygen supply systems will improve equitable access to oxygen and, in so doing, would significantly reduce mortality from hypoxaemiam our society.

“The Oyo State Medical Oxygen Plant is the first to be solarized in Nigeria. The establishment of this plant is not just a testament to His Excellency’s commitment to enhancing healthcare infrastructure but also a beacon of hope and resilience and underscores his unwavering dedication to the well- being of the good people of Oyo state.

“This state-of-the-art facility represents a leap forward in our capacity to meet the growing demand for medical oxygen. It embodies cutting-edge technology, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. It stands as a symbol of our proactive approach to ensuring that our healthcare systems are robust, responsive and ready for the future.

“Central to this mission is the care of our tiniest babies who also require medical Oxygen and so the establishment of our newborn unit. This is a level 2 care; 12-cot facility equipped to provide advanced care for small and sick newborns and represents a strategic intervention aimed at improving health outcomes for newborns.”

Ajetunmobi said these milestones mark a significant achievement for the state, UNICEF,, IHS Towers, the Governments of Norway and Canada and Bills & Melinda Gates Foundation who have contributed tirelessly to bring the projects to fruition.

Also in his goodwill message, the IHS Nigeria Director Data Governance Management, Ayobami Adisa noted the critical importance of raising access to healthcare infrastructure,adding that, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for reliable medical oxygen supply, a lifeline for countless patients battling respiratory ailments such as pneumonia, hypoxemia disorders in newborn babies and pregnant women, as well as support for emergency cases such as during surgeries and in obstetric care and anesthesia.

He said IHS Nigeria, in partnership with UNICEF in 2019 decided to leverage resources and expertise to contribute to the essential cause by building new medical oxygen plants, which are installed in healthcare facilities aligned to state-specific oxygen resilience plans.

He said the collaboration also involved training healthcare workers on the safe administration of oxygen, adding that, the partnership is being implemented across Oyo, Ogun, Cross-River, Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and River States.

He said the new state-of-the-art medical oxygen plant commissioned was more than just a facility; and a beacon of hope.

“This oxygen plant is a symbol of our solidarity, resilience, and hope. It embodies our belief that together, we can overcome challenges and build a brighter, healthier future for all.“