PRESS RELEASE

With financial support from Sweden and UNICEF, this facility to be constructed by
UNOPS, will contribute to strengthening the health system in Zambia

LUSAKA, 11 May 2023 – The Minister of Health, Ms Sylvia T. Masebo,, today participated in a ground-breaking ceremony that will initiate the construction of a medical oxygen production plant at Kitwe Teaching Hospital in the
Copperbelt province. At the same ceremony, the Minister of Health

officially launched Zambia’s first ever five-year (2022-2026) National Medical Oxygen Strategic Plan (ZNMOSP). The development of the strategic plan was supported by PATH and its implementation will cost the Government of the Republic of Zambia an estimated
$US1.6 billion, whilst the oxygen production plant will be procured and constructed by UNOPS with financial support from Sweden and UNICEF, at an estimated $US1.7million.

This plant will serve 5 districts in Copperbelt province, including Kitwe Teaching Hospital and 42 health centres in Kitwe district of which 16 health centres are for basic emergency obstetric and new-born care providing access to quality oxygen.

“COVID-19 taught us that access to oxygen can be the difference between life and death for many patients. Oxygen is also a critical treatment for children with pneumonia, which remains the leading infectious killer of children under 5 years globally. Thanks to the generous contributions of Sweden and UNICEF, the Government of the Republic of Zambia is now in a better position to respond to the needs of the patients requiring oxygen therapy every day. This will help to save many lives,” said the Health Minister.

Medical oxygen is a life-saving therapeutic gas used for the management of hypoxaemia – an abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood that is caused by disease, trauma or other health conditions, and especially respiratory conditions and diseases like pneumonia and COVID-19. Medical oxygen is also critical requirement
for the management of emergency obstetric and new-born care. Through a UN-to-UN agreement, UNICEF engaged with UNOPS to undertake this Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plant construction project that consists of
design and technical services, oxygen plant building works, back-up generator (130kVA) and its shed, power correction stabilizers, and a duplex PSA oxygen plant. This duplex PSA plant is expected to produce 100–120 cylinders (50 Litres/Cylinder)of oxygen per day unless closed-down for maintenance. This plant operates 24/7, as
one generator can continue production of oxygen while the other one is under
maintenance.

“Pneumonia kills 2,000 children under the age of five each day globally, at least one child every 45 seconds. In Zambia, pneumonia is still the leading cause of under-five deaths. In 2021, as per the global estimates, 20 per cent of total estimated 37,822 under-five deaths in Zambia were due to pneumonia. Oxygen is an essential medicine
for treating children who suffer from this disease. Thus, it is a priority for UNICEF to bring oxygen closer to children and other patients who need it. We are certain that this newly established plant will help the Government better plan for and address oxygen needs, especially among those most vulnerable and at risk,” explained Dr Penelope Campbell, UNICEF Representative in Zambia.

As part of the project, and in addition to the installation, plant operators will be trained on basic maintenance and operations of the PSA oxygen plant to ensure sustainability. The project will be implemented over a period of twelve months ending
in May 2024.

Earlier, UNICEF also supported the Ministry of Health and worked with the Ministry’s Bio-Medical Engineering Technologists (BMETs) unit to develop national guidelines and Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) on the operations and maintenance of oxygen plants and equipment funded by UNICEF and Sweden.
”Sweden is committed to supporting the Government of the Republic of Zambia to strengthen their health system and build resilience that will ensure provision of quality essential health services. It is important that investments that were initially meant for the COVID-19 pandemic continue being leveraged to improve the wellbeing
of all Zambians. We recognize that oxygen therapy is an essential medicine that is vital for ending preventable deaths especially for mothers and children, which is a priority for us,” stated the Ambassador of Sweden to Zambia, H.E. Johan Hallenborg.

The initiative implemented in Zambia follows the example of Kenya and Nigeria, where UNOPS and UNICEF worked closely with the Ministries of Health.

“UNOPS is determined to complete the project on schedule so that benefits of the project can be achieved on time,” said UNOPS East and Southern Africa Director, Rainer Frauenfeld, who added that the project will go a long way in providing Oxygen supply to the beneficiary communities in the Copperbelt region and its environs.

This partnership has demonstrated the principle of Delivering as One, through coordinated and efficient approach to support the Government in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically, SDG-3 on Good Health and Well-being; SDG-9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; and SDG-17 on
Partnerships for the Goals respectively.
“At PATH, scaling up medical oxygen availability in Zambia has been our top priority ever since the COVID-10 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of our healthcare system. Our efforts are now going to be focused heavily on effectively coordinating medical oxygen partners and supporting the Government of Zambia through Ministry
of Health to raise the US$1.6 billion required to implement the Zambia National Medical Oxygen Strategic Plan that has been launched,” concluded Dr. Nanthalile Mugala, PATH’s Chief of Africa Region.
ENDS,