The UK-funded Unitaid plans to use US$22 million (Sh2.84 billion) to set up four medical oxygen plants, making it Africa’s first liquid oxygen regional manufacturing program.

The ambitious program will see the establishment of three oxygen production facilities in Kenya and one in Tanzania in a bid to increase medical oxygen access in Sub Sahara Africa.

The program seeks to boost the production of medical oxygen by 300 per cent in East Africa and notably slash oxygen prices to be more affordable for regional health care systems.

Kenya’s Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai lauded the ambitious project while emphasizing the critical role medical oxygen plays at all levels of healthcare provision

“Kenya’s drive towards universal health coverage requires uninterrupted access to all health products and technologies including medical oxygen,” said Kimtai.

He added: “We are delighted as the Ministry of Health to note that this new liquid oxygen manufacturing plant will boost availability all around the country and not just the Coast region.”

Unitaid Executive Director Dr Philippe Duneton noted that the facility set up in Mombasa County with a 2025 completion date was just the beginning of a larger effort to enhance access to oxygen across Africa.

“By working together with Kenyan and Tanzanian manufacturers and other partners, we are ensuring that oxygen is no longer a luxury but a basic right for all patients, especially in times of critical need,” stated Duneton.

PHOTO/UNITAID

His sentiments were echoed by UK Deputy Development Director Eduarda Mendonca-Gray.

“Oxygen is also vital for maternal and newborn survival as well as surgery, emergency, and critical care. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure accessibility for all,” she said.

With a scalable model, the initiative is intended as a blueprint for oxygen access expansion across Africa to sustainably address critical oxygen shortages.

Through the program, and in collaboration with the Governments of,

The move will see the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) lead market strategy and PATH focus on community and civil society engagement as they work with Kenya and Tanzania.

The initiative aims to save up to 154,000 lives in Kenya and Tanzania in 10 years by tackling life-threatening conditions like pneumonia, preterm birth complications, and surgical emergencies.

The program is part of a wider Unitaid plan to boost production of essential health products in Africa in line with continental initiative to enhance health security, including Africa CDC’s Partnership for the Harmonization of African Health Products Manufacturing.