The Kwara State Government has commissioned two new oxygen plants in Lafiagi and Omu-Aran to boost healthcare delivery.
The Global Fund–donated facilities will supply medical oxygen to hospitals across Kwara North and South.
The Kwara State Government has inaugurated two new Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plants at the General Hospital in Lafiagi and the Thomas Adewumi Teaching Hospital in Omu-Aran to improve access to medical oxygen and enhance healthcare delivery across the state.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Health’s Press Secretary, Saad Hamdalat, the facilities were donated by the Global Fund and are designed to serve as regional centres for oxygen production, primarily supporting hospitals in the Kwara North and South senatorial districts.
At the commissioning event, the Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, who was represented by the Assistant Director of Medical Laboratory Services, Toyin Raji, said the initiative represents a major step in strengthening healthcare capacity in the state. She explained that the plants would provide hospitals with a steady and affordable supply of medical oxygen essential for surgeries, neonatal care, emergencies, and patients with respiratory conditions.
El-Imam thanked the Global Fund for its support, describing the project as a reflection of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to making healthcare accessible and sustainable for all residents. She also acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and technical experts who worked on the project.
During the inspection, the Zonal Coordinator for North Central Oxygen at the Federal Ministry of Health, Onoja Kingsley, stressed the importance of maintaining the facilities to ensure long-term benefits. He advised that revenue generated from oxygen sales should be reinvested in maintenance and recommended setting up a State Oxygen Committee to oversee operations beyond the plants’ five-year warranty period.
The Chief Medical Director of Lafiagi General Hospital, Saliu Bolakale, commended the government and the Global Fund for their continuous investment in healthcare infrastructure, noting that the project demonstrates a strong commitment to public health.
The statement added that representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, NACA, the Global Fund, and senior officials of the Kwara State Ministry of Health were present at the commissioning, describing it as a milestone in the ongoing transformation of the state’s healthcare system.
