ENUGU STATE BOOSTS HEALTHCARE WITH COMMISSIONING OF MEDICAL OXYGEN PLANTS IN NSUKKA AND AWGU

By Chinyere Aroh

In a landmark stride toward advancing emergency and critical care in Enugu State, the Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Hospital Management Board, Professor Uche Polycarp Agu, officially commissioned two medical oxygen plants on Thursday, July 31, and Saturday, August 2, 2025.

The facilities,located at the General Hospitals in Nsukka and Awgu, were donated by the Federal Government as part of a nationwide initiative to scale up access to medical oxygen and bolster Nigeria’s emergency preparedness. Each plant is equipped with a 125KVA generator and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology, capable of producing high-purity medical oxygen at 94.1%. These facilities are designed to serve operating theatres, emergency wards, neonatal units, and intensive care units, marking a major milestone in enhancing Enugu State’s healthcare infrastructure and capacity to save lives.

Describing the installations as “lifelines, not just infrastructure,” Professor Ugwu emphasized their vital role in treating respiratory complications, obstetric emergencies, and surgical cases.

“This plant represents a crucial investment in the health and well-being of our people. With high-purity oxygen and the capacity to serve multiple facilities, we are better equipped than ever to respond to life-threatening emergencies,” he stated.

The Commissioner expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Government for what he called a “timely and life-saving intervention,” while reaffirming Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration’s commitment to maintaining the facilities and continually building local capacity.

“We are on the verge of achieving statewide oxygen sufficiency. No healthcare facility in Enugu State will be left without this critical resource,” Prof. Ugwu affirmed.

Speaking at the event, Professor Uche Agu, CEO of the Enugu State Hospital Management Board, described the project as a “game-changer” that would address the long-standing problem of oxygen scarcity, which has previously hampered emergency response and contributed to avoidable fatalities.

“With these installations, we are positioned to drastically reduce oxygen-lack-related preventable deaths in our healthcare facilities,” he stated.

Professor Agu further assured that the Hospital Management Board, as custodian of the plants, would ensure optimal operation, maintenance, and accountability, with the goal of achieving consistent healthcare delivery and revenue generation for the state.

“The Board will supervise operations, guarantee plant protection, and hold facilities accountable to deliver reliable healthcare outcomes,” he added.

He also commended Governor Mbah’s leadership for backing words with action, stating that the administration’s reforms are setting the stage for Enugu State to emerge as a hub for medical tourism in Nigeria.

Dr. Uchechukwu Okenwa, Director of Public Health and Disease Control and the state’s oxygen plant desk officer, explained that the development forms part of a broader initiative by the Federal Ministry of Health to strengthen emergency healthcare nationwide. He noted that a coordinated supply chain is being developed to ensure steady oxygen delivery to satellite health facilities.

At the commissioning in Awgu, the Medical Director of the General Hospital, Dr. Mbonu, described the occasion as transformative for the local healthcare system. He assured that staff are fully committed to ensuring the plant is effectively and sustainably utilized.

Representing the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Nnenna Godwin, the National Desk Officer for Oxygen Infrastructure, highlighted the strategic importance of the intervention.

“This commissioning is a critical milestone in Nigeria’s emergency preparedness framework. Enugu State was selected due to its strategic role in the South East regional health system,” she noted.

“We are confident that Enugu will serve as a model for other states in how to deploy and sustain oxygen infrastructure. We will continue to provide technical support to ensure this intervention’s longevity.”

With the successful installation of the two medical oxygen plants, Enugu State is now significantly closer to achieving universal access to medical oxygen, a key component in the fight to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and to improve the survival of critically ill patients.

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