On Friday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) inaugurated an oxygen plant it built in collaboration with IHS Towers, the Canadian government, and other donor partners for the Ebonyi state government.
The project, situated at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA 2), was Inaugurated alongside the Ebonyi state government.
Inaugurating the project, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Rowkan Khan disclosed that the gas plant project was funded by the government of Canada and IHS Towers.
Khan, during the handover ceremony, said that the synergy between UNICEF and the Ebonyi state government gave birth to the realisation of the project and called for more collaborative efforts from other donor partners.
She said, “Today marks a significant milestone in the healthcare landscape of Ebonyi State as we gather to witness the formal handover of the Oxygen Gas Plant to the Ebonyi State government. On behalf of UNICEF, our esteemed donors, the Government of Canada, and IHS Towers, I am honoured to be part of this historic moment.
“The handover of the Oxygen Gas Plant signifies not just the inauguration of a facility but a commitment to the health and well-being of the people of Ebonyi State. It stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and dedication in addressing critical gaps in
healthcare infrastructure.
“The partnership between UNICEF and the Ebonyi State Government exemplifies what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared vision. It reflects a joint commitment to strengthening health systems and ensuring access to life-saving medical oxygen, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
“Throughout the journey leading up to this moment, we have seen the impact of collective efforts. From conducting rapid assessments to training healthcare workers and facilitating the dissemination of national policies, each step has been a building block towards a healthier future for Ebonyi State.
Central to our mission is the prioritisation of maternal and child health interventions. By placing women and children at the forefront of our initiatives, we aim to create a future where every mother and child has access to the care they deserve.
“As we look to the future, our focus remains on sustainable access to equitable quality health services, which includes expanding medical oxygen production, harnessing sustainable power sources such as solar energy, and establishing equitable distribution infrastructure. These efforts are essential for sustaining the impact of our initiatives and ensuring that healthcare remains accessible to all.”
Representing Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Patricia Obilla, appreciated UNICEF and said that the government would ensure the maintenance of the plant.
She, however, charged the Chief Medical Director of Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital to ensure the plant produces enough oxygen for the treatment of patients in the hospitals.
“I want to thank you, Unicef, for the Oxygen plant and to tell you that we are going to sustain it, We are going to give you all the enabling environment to make sure that you perform very well here.
“You have enumerated every one of your needs; yes, they are very important, but I want to tell you to also put it up in writing for anyone that Unicef can not do; the government will do it for you.
“You need to have people that will work constantly to see that the plant produces oxygen that will be enough for the people
My office will be coming for an inspection here to see to it that the plant functions well.
On his part, Chief Medical Director of FETHA, Professor Robinson Ono, while commending UNICEF and the state government for the oxygen plant, requested the solarization of the plant.
“Unicef handed over an oxygen plant that has the capacity to produce 6,000 litres of oxygen per day to the state; it’s meant to be co-managed with our staff and the state.
“For us, this is what we have been looking for, where we will now have our own oxygen production done by ourselves, and Unicef has come to our help by domiciling this oxygen plant in this hospital.
“We want to assure the world that we have well-trained engineers that will man this plant and that we will ensure that oxygen production is done regularly so that patients that come to this hospital can receive oxygen freely and that we can save a lot of lives.
“I am also requesting that this oxygen plant be solarized because diesel is very expensive, and when you work on diesel, the production will be as if you are buying it from other places. But if it is polarised, the cost of production and the cost patients will pay for it will also be reduced.
When I was talking early, I requested support for a water treatment plant. The essence of it is that we discovered that a lot of patients now have renal failure, and we think that one of the things that may be causing it is the kind of water we have here (hard water).”
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