Kakamega County General Hospital medical superintendent Dr Christian Lambert, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and other Department of Health officials inspect medical supplies at the Kakamega County General Hospital /HILTON OTENYOThe Kakamega government has received medical oxygen support equipment to enhance access to reliable medical-grade oxygen.
The support, under the Oxygen as a Service (O2aaS) programme, will benefit 10 primary healthcare facilities.
Governor Fernandes Barasa said the initiative is a partnership between his administration and the Centre for Public Health and Development (CPHD).
"The equipment package comprises 20 oxygen concentrators (two 5L/min concentrators per facility), 10 backup oxygen cylinders, 10 five-way oxygen splitters, pulse oximeters, volt guards and patient tubing, including cannulas and nebuliser masks," Barasa said while inspecting the equipment.
Health services executive Dr Livingstone Imbayi said the initiative contributes to improved service delivery and patient outcomes.
He said the equipment will be distributed to Bushiri, Chekalini and Emusanda health centres, as well as Likuyani and Matungu Level 4 hospitals.
Other beneficiaries include Makunga Level 4 Hospital, Butere Level 4 Hospital, Khwisero Level 4 Hospital, Mukumu Mission Hospital and Iguhu Level 4 Hospital.
“The rollout exercise also included capacity building for healthcare workers on oxygen therapy protocols, equipment handling and clinical safety, as well as baseline data collection to support the programme's three-year implementation period,” Imbayi said during the handover.
Present during the handover were director of medical services Stephen Wandei and county biomedical engineer Marvin Nandwa.
Meanwhile, the governor inspected recently delivered drugs and non-pharmaceutical supplies worth Sh60 million from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) at the county general hospital.
The consignment is expected to strengthen the county’s health agenda and ensure health facilities continue serving residents from Kakamega and neighbouring counties.
Barasa also assessed the county's oxygen plant, which produces 1,200 litres of oxygen per minute, urging hospital management to maintain the supplies and the plant to guarantee uninterrupted service.
Last year, the Ministry of Health flagged off a consignment of oxygen accessories under the Global Fund Covid-19 Response Mechanism – Oxygen Infrastructure Project, marking a significant stride in strengthening the country’s health systems and expanding oxygen access to the last mile.
Fully funded by the Global Fund, the consignment included 470 multiparameter patient monitors, 10,000 wall outlet flowmeters and 612 oxygen analysers distributed to health facilities across all 47 counties. The supplies complemented 20,620 oxygen cylinders previously distributed nationwide.
Speaking during the flag-off, Health CS Aden Duale said the initiative underscored Kenya’s commitment to building a resilient oxygen ecosystem and advancing universal health coverage (UHC).
“This milestone represents significant progress in strengthening our health systems and ensuring every Kenyan, from newborns to patients in critical care, has access to safe and reliable oxygen therapy,”
“This equipment will enhance early oxygen therapy for newborns and support patients experiencing respiratory distress or living with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.”
The CS emphasised the ministry’s commitment to sustainability, “We will calibrate all equipment every six months, continue building capacity for health workers, and ensure that our biomedical engineers, pharmacists and clinicians have the skills needed to manage and maintain this critical equipmen
He urged county governments and health facilities to ring-fence funds for preventive maintenance, calibration and spare parts to guarantee continued functionality.
Duale commended the Global Fund for its financing and Amref Health Africa for procurement support, reaffirming that strong partnerships anchored in government leadership are key to delivering tangible UHC results.
"We are united in purpose to move from oxygen availability to assured access in ev
The CS was accompanied by Medical Services PS Ouma Oluga, Public Healt
The equipment is expected to save lives previously at risk.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), an estimated 60 per cent of the world’s population lacks access to safe and affordable medical oxygen.
In low- and middle-income countries, nine out of 10 hospitals lacked the equipment to provide oxygen therapy, resulting in 800,000 preventable deaths per year even before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Beyond the pandemic, medical oxygen remains vital for everyday healthcare, from powering
The Global Fund investment initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the ability of national health systems to reliably deliver life-saving care.
