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The Zambian government has reportedly unveiled plans to construct six oxygen plants in various provinces across the country, with a budget exceeding US$10 million.
Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo, made the announcement during the groundbreaking ceremony at Kasama General Hospital in the Northern Province.
The construction of these oxygen plants, to be installed in six hospitals, was made possible through support from the Global Fund, with a total cost of US$10,482,381.
“In addition, a total of 10,400 oxygen cylinders were procured in 2023 at a total cost of $1,123,920.00 and have since been delivered to the sites receiving the oxygen plants,” Masebo said.
The beneficiaries of these initiatives included Kasama General Hospital in the Northern Province, the National Heart Hospital in Lusaka Province, Kabwe Central Hospital in Central Province, Kalindawalo General Hospital in Eastern Province, St. Paul’s Mission Hospital in Luapula Province and Chinsali General Hospital in Muchinga Province.
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“Further, Global Fund procured 185 ventilators worth US$ 1.6 Million, 30 patient monitors worth US$ 446,550 which have been distributed to health facilities in all the 10 provinces of Zambia,” the minister said
The collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Global Fund, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) stood as a testament to the positive outcomes achieved through public-private partnerships for the benefit of society.
Masebo stated that these oxygen plants represented more than just infrastructure; they are critical investments in healthcare assets that must be safeguarded in every location where they are installed.
“The ground-breaking ceremony is proof of Government efforts to strengthen medical oxygen production, bulk oxygen supply and oxygen reticulation, aiming to increase coverage from less than 10 percent to 60 percent of all hospitals by 2026,” she said
The Minister of Health commended the Global Fund, UNOPS and other partners for their invaluable support towards improving healthcare infrastructure and services in Zambia.
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