The Oyo State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery by ensuring the continuous availability of medical oxygen across the state. This was emphasized at the Oxygen Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Development of the Operational and Sustainability Plan for Medical Oxygen Plants, held on Tuesday at Ibadan Business School.
In her address, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, highlighted the significance of the workshop as a collective effort to enhance oxygen security in the state. She expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its technical and financial support in organizing the event, acknowledging their dedication to improving the oxygen ecosystem in Oyo State.
She added that the government, recognizing the critical role of oxygen in saving lives, has prioritized investments in oxygen infrastructure. In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and development partners such as UNICEF, CHAI, NACA, NEST 360, and the Global Fund, significant progress has been made in strengthening oxygen security.
Notably, the establishment of the Oxygen Technical Working Group (Oxygen Forum) in March 2022 has facilitated policy coordination, supply chain improvements, and sustainability measures.
Today, Oyo State boasts a growing network of functional oxygen plants. The Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant at Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, is fully operational, supplying medical oxygen to both public and private health facilities at a subsidized rate. Functional oxygen plants are also in place at the State Hospital, Oyo, and LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, while ongoing work at the State Hospital, Ogbomoso, will further enhance capacity. Additionally, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has a fully functional plant complementing the state’s oxygen supply.
Dr. Ajetunmobi acknowledged the invaluable contributions of key partners in achieving these milestones. UNICEF has played a crucial role in infrastructure development, training, and the donation of the first solar-powered PSA Plant at Jericho Specialist Hospital. Similarly, NACA, in collaboration with the Global Fund, has provided a PSA Plant and essential oxygen equipment. CHAI has supported engineering toolkits for plant maintenance, while the Federal Ministry of Health and UNICEF have trained healthcare workers in oxygen therapy, pneumonia management, and hypoxemia detection.
Beyond infrastructure, the Oyo State Medical Oxygen Strategy (2023–2027) provides a roadmap for oxygen expansion across health facilities. Over 130 healthcare workers have been trained, and critical oxygen equipment including cylinders, concentrators, humidifiers, and pulse oximeters has been distributed. Public awareness campaigns have also been launched, reinforcing the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access. A major milestone was the commissioning of the first solar-powered PSA Plant by Governor Seyi Makinde.
Dr. Ajetunmobi commended Governor Makinde for his proactive approach in hiring healthcare workers and continuing investments in healthcare infrastructure. However, she noted that sustaining the oxygen system requires further efforts, including strengthening supply chains, establishing clear maintenance strategies, ensuring financial sustainability, and training biomedical engineers and healthcare workers.
“As we work towards a practical and sustainable plan, I urge all stakeholders to contribute their expertise. Our goal is not only to secure a reliable oxygen supply for Oyo State but also to serve as a model for oxygen system sustainability across Nigeria,” she stated.
The Honourable Commissioner concluded with a call for collective action: “Together, let us build an efficient, accessible, and sustainable oxygen system—ensuring that no life is lost due to a lack of medical oxygen.”
The Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde commended UNICEF for their collaboration and also advocated for a more stronger collaboration. He charged the forum to deliberate on the maintenance of the Solarized oxygen for its sustainability.
In her goodwill message on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Godwin Nnena commended the State Government on the achievement of the Pressure Swing Oxygen Plant. She pledged the support of Federal Ministry for the sustainability plans for the State in terms of production, maintenance in order to reduce downtime by the oxygen plant.
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