By Roland Ike
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has inaugurated an oxygen plant it donated to the Ebonyi state government situated at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.During the event Friday, the State Oxygen Desk Officer, Dr Lawrence Ezeogo said that the facility would boost the provision of oxygen in the state’s health sector.
Ezeogo said that the need for availability of oxygen became more pronounced after the COVID 19 pandemic with its high demand in the health system.
“Various nations and health partners intensified efforts to produce enough commercial oxygen around the world.
“It is therefore heartwarming that UNICEF chose Ebonyi State to install the facility which is the first from a partner in the south east zone and beyond.
“We are happy that this event took place in the administration of a health-friendly governor who has revitalized the state’s health sector.”
He noted that the state would ensure the maintenance of the facility as it had discovered reasons why other plants across the country shut down easily.
“There are issues with power supply and training of manpower as we seek the provision of solar energy to sustain the plant.
“During the test-run of the facility, we discovered that much fuel was needed to run it and this will impact on the cost of the oxygen for patients.
“We also seek the training of biomedical engineers who will handle the plant to ensure desired sustainability.
The Chief Medical Director of AE-FUTHA, Prof. Robinson Onoh described the occasion as historic as it will impact positively on the hospital’s provision of health services.
“We used to seek oxygen in Enugu, Port Harcourt among others but with this facility, there is hope for our patients and the state.
“We presently have a plant that can produce enough oxygen for the state and also serve as a source of internally generated revenue.”
He reiterated that the facility needs solar energy to operate and adequate training for the biomedical engineers that would handle it.
The UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Rownak Khan noted that the facility was a product of a robust public/ private partnership.
“This was achieved with the collaboration of UNICEF and the Ebonyi government with the support of the Canadian government and IHS towers.
“We have heard the plea for solar energy but efforts should be made to involve more partners as UNICEF cannot do it alone,”
Mrs Patricia Obila, the state Deputy Governor who represented Gov. Francis Nwifuru at the occasion thanked UNICEF for the plant and promised that it will be well maintained.
“I want relevant authorities to tabulate what will be needed to maintain the plant as the government will provide those UNICEF cannot provide.”
