Canadian High Commissioner James Christoff has announced Canada’s $23 million contribution towards the establishment of oxygen plants in Nigeria, in collaboration with UNICEF.
The announcement was made during Christoff’s visit to the newly commissioned Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant at the General Hospital Nchia in Eleme, Rivers State.
Christoff highlighted Canada’s commitment to addressing global health challenges through substantial funding. “The Government of Canada, UNICEF, the government of Rivers State, and of course, the healthcare system, came together and bring effective focus and change to address shortcomings that, ultimately, if addressed, can make a real difference to the general public,” he stated.
He elaborated on the broader impact of this initiative, noting, “So it is my sincere pleasure to be here representing Canada and seeing how Canadian tax dollars really have made a difference here in Nigeria.
And so the Government of Canada provided $23 million to support the building of nine facilities across Nigeria including this one and to respond to similar gaps that we have identified during our response.”
The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had previously inaugurated the 720,000-liter capacity oxygen plant on August 6, 2024, which was handed over to the state government by UNICEF.
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Cristain Munduate, noted that the plant was built following a nationwide assessment of oxygen needs and was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Government, the Canadian Government, Rivers State Government, and IHS Towers.
Dr. Mekele Igwe, the permanent secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Health, described the oxygen plant as a significant advancement in medical care.
“It stands as a beacon of progress and a vital resource in our quest to provide better medical care and ensure that no patient is deprived of the essential oxygen required for their treatment,” she said.
She further detailed the plant’s capabilities, “This oxygen plant fills about 135 cylinders (20-1 liter bottles) in 24 hours and provides 720,000 liters of medical oxygen within the same time frame. This capacity ensures that 100 children with severe pneumonia or 50-60 adults battling critical respiratory illnesses can receive round-the-clock oxygen treatment simultaneously.”
Dr. Igwe emphasized the plant’s critical role in regions with limited access to medical oxygen, stating that it enhances the ability of hospitals in Rivers State and neighboring areas to handle emergencies and provide continuous care.
She praised the Canadian government’s commitment to health innovations and strengthening healthcare systems, stressing, “Your contributions reflect a shared vision for Health for all Rivers.”
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Dr. Anslem Audu, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Port Harcourt, expressed confidence that the plant would meet oxygen needs across both private and government facilities, asserting, “There will be no scarcity of oxygen in Rivers State with the commissioning of the plant.”
He also acknowledged the collaboration that made the project possible: “The funding for the establishment of this plant has been provided by the Canadian government, IHS Towers, through UNICEF and everything has been paid for, and the government in their wisdom has ensured that Private Public Partnership will ensure the sustainability of the plant.”
The new plant represents a significant investment in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, aiming to improve medical care and save lives through enhanced access to critical medical oxygen.
