At a groundbreaking ceremony for a new liquid oxygen facility on the Coast, key figures including Hiroshi Ogihara from the Japanese embassy, Paras Pandya, MD of Synergy Gases, Governor Gideon Mung’aro, and Unitaid’s Robert Matiru came together.
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Unitaid, backed by UK funds, declared a hefty Sh2.8 billion investment aimed at aiding three oxygen manufacturers in Kenya and Tanzania. This significant boost is set to usher in Africa’s maiden regional production of liquid oxygen.
Aiming to enhance the availability of medical oxygen in East and Southern Africa, manufacturing plants will be erected in Kenya and Tanzania. A noble endeavor, indeed!
“We are pioneering Africa’s regional manufacturing of medical oxygen. Our goal? Tripling oxygen output by 300% in East Africa while cutting costs by 27%,” according to a release from Nairobi’s British High Commission.
This bold plan is expected to make oxygen more financially accessible across healthcare systems in the region and enable the treatment of thousands more patients each month.
Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, emphasized the significance of consistent access to health essentials like medical oxygen for Kenya’s universal health goals.
“The Ministry of Health celebrates this new liquid oxygen plant, set to enhance availability nationwide and not just in the Coast area. Kudos to Unitaid and collaborators for securing funding and providing the technical prowess vital for this venture,” he remarked.
Dr. Philippe Duneton, Unitaid’s executive director, noted that the facility in Mombasa symbolized the dawn of a large-scale movement to revolutionize oxygen access continent-wide.
“Medical oxygen is crucial for survival, yet numerous healthcare centers grapple with access issues. By joining forces with Kenyan and Tanzanian manufacturers and others, we’re working to ensure oxygen becomes a basic right, especially during critical times,” said Duneton.
Eduarda Mendonca-Gray, the UK’s Deputy Development Director, applauded the teamwork fueling the “essential lifesaving initiative.”
“Oxygen is an irreplaceable lifesaving medicine. It’s indispensable for births, surgery, emergencies, and critical care. We’ll persist in collaborating with partners to guarantee its availability for everyone,” Mendonca-Gray asserted.
Envisioned to save an impressive 154,000 lives in Kenya and Tanzania over the next decade, the initiative seeks to combat life-threatening conditions, including pneumonia, preterm birth issues, and surgical crises. Quite the future we’re crafting, wouldn’t you say?
