The Kwara State Government has inaugurated two Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plants at the General Hospital, Lafiagi, and the Thomas Adewumi Teaching Hospital, Omu-Aran.
The PSA oxygen plants were donated by the Global Fund to support the state’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, described the facilities as significant milestones in Kwara’s healthcare journey.
Represented by the Assistant Director of Medical Laboratory Services, Toyin Raji, the commissioner said the plants would serve as regional hubs for the production of medical-grade oxygen.
She explained that the facilities would ensure a steady and affordable supply of the essential life-saving resource to hospitals across the state, particularly in the Kwara North and Kwara South senatorial districts.
“Medical oxygen remains a critical life-saving resource used daily in neonatal care, surgeries, emergency treatments, and respiratory conditions,” she said.
“With these plants, our hospitals will now enjoy reliable and affordable oxygen supply produced locally. That means more hope and better health outcomes for our patients and families.”
El-Imam thanked the Global Fund for its generous support, describing the project as a testament to the shared commitment to quality healthcare.
She said the initiative reflected Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s vision to make healthcare accessible and sustainable for all citizens in the state.
The commissioner also commended the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and the technical teams and health workers who ensured the successful installation and testing of the plants.
Mr. Kingsley Onoja, the Zonal Coordinator, North Central Oxygen, Federal Ministry of Health, who led the technical inspection and inauguration, said the process included testing all plant components — the air compressor, PSA oxygen generator, booster compressor, and filling ramp — to verify oxygen purity and system efficiency.
He stressed the need for sustainability, urging the state to establish an Oxygen Committee and implement a framework to guarantee continuous operation beyond the plant’s five-year warranty period.
“The plants should not only produce oxygen but also generate revenue through sales, with proceeds reinvested in operations and maintenance,” Onoja advised.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of Lafiagi General Hospital, Dr. Saliu Bolakale, commended the Global Fund and the state government for their continued investment in the health sector.
He said the new oxygen plants would significantly enhance healthcare delivery and save lives through reliable, locally produced oxygen.
“This project marks a major advancement in our state’s healthcare infrastructure and demonstrates government’s unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of the people,” Bolakale added.
