Lagos: The Lagos State government inaugurated a new Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant at the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, on Wednesday to ensure the constant availability of oxygen for patients.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated that the oxygen plant donated by the Global Fund would help reduce mortalities caused by oxygen shortages.
Abayomi, who was represented by Dr Olajumoke Oyenuga, Director of Planning and Statistics in the ministry, said the donation aligns with the efforts of the state government to ensure a healthier and more robust health system.
The PSA oxygen plant donated by the Global Trust Fund was provided in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.
He said the plant could produce 60 cylinders in 24 hours.
“We witnessed circumstances that were not pleasant due to a lack of access to oxygen during COVID-19, and lives were lost because of a shortage of oxygen.
“This new plant, strategically located at Alimosho General Hospital, will help the hospital to meet its oxygen requirement through a steady supply and impact positively on the treatment outcomes for patients requiring oxygen therapy.”
The commissioner commended the Global Fund and the Federal Ministry of Health for their donation, which complements the state government’s efforts.
He urged the hospital to make good use of the plant to reduce preventable deaths.
Also, Mrs Eno Edem-Igabo, Secretary to the National Oxygen Desk, Federal Ministry of Health, stated that a laudable initiative supported by the Global Fund was part of the measures taken by the Federal Government to ensure that no one died due to a lack of oxygen.
Edem-Igabo said 63 plants were donated to two senatorial zones in each state to increase access to oxygen.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Ayodapo Soyinka, who commended the donor, said the plant would help meet the enormous oxygen needs of the hospital and, by extension, those of other parts of the state.
Soyinka also lauded the state and federal ministries for citing the oxygen plant in Alimosho, which was the largest local government in Lagos State.
He emphasised that the importance of oxygen cannot be overstated, noting that all clinical departments require oxygen to save the lives of patients in critical condition.
“We appreciate the Lagos State health ministry and the Federal Ministry of Health for deciding to site this plant in this health facility.
” Strategically, Alimosho happens to be the biggest local government in the state, and this will no doubt have a significant impact on the state.
” The oxygen consumption here is relatively high; we use close to 30-40 bottles of cylinders daily for patients.
“Alimosho hospital is the only general hospital that has a functional ICU in the state, and patients in the ICU basically live on oxygen, and patients on ventilators are also on oxygen.
“This will go a long way in helping us to meet our local demands,” he said.
He added that the hospital had already put efforts in place to ensure the smooth operation of the plant and its sustainability.
Mr Abiodun Omoloja, the Coordinator of the Global Fund Grant Unit, Lagos Office, stated that the essence of the collaboration with the federal ministry was to ensure that people have access to medical oxygen when needed.