In partnership with the Government of Rivers State, IHS Nigeria, and the Government of Canada, UNICEF has announced the handover of a cutting-edge medical oxygen plant and oxygen delivery devices to the General Hospital in Eleme.
The UNICEF said it’s a significant milestone which represents a major advancement in the ongoing efforts to improve maternal, newborn, and child health in Rivers State and across Nigeria.
According to UNICEF, the 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).
The organization said the assessment stands as the largest of its kind ever conducted globally. It added that the Federal Ministry of Health used the findings to strategically determine the placement of oxygen plants across the country.
“The handover of this newly built Oxygen Generation Plant marks a crucial advancement in our mission to supply medical-grade oxygen to healthcare facilities,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative.
“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.” he added
The donor noted that 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 stressed that the plant 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.
The UNICEF cited a recent data that 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.”, the organization said.
Speaking Cristian Muduate added, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Rivers State for their unwavering support and collaboration.
“We also express our deepest appreciation to our donors, IHS Nigeria, and the Government of Canada for this partnership. 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.”
Also speaking at the event, Mohamad Darwish, the CEO of IHS Towers noted that the initiative aimed at improving healthcare accessibility and delivery of services and strengthen treatments for illnesses in the various communities where they are sighted.
“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.”, said Darwish. .
