The United Nations Child Education Fund, UNICEF and IHS Nigeria have expressed satisfaction with the operation of the oxygen plant at Eleme General Hospital, Rivers State, saying it has bridged the oxygen gap and saved many lives in the state and beyond.
The chief of UNICEF field office, Port Harcourt, Anslem Audu, speaking with newsmen after an inspection of the oxygen plant in Eleme port Harcourt, said the establishment of the plant was borne out of the difficulty experienced by patients, especially children during the COVID-19 in the state.
The Oxygen plant, situated at the Eleme General hospital, Ebubu was built under a public-private arrangement between UNICEF, the Canadian government, IHS Nigeria and the Rivers state Ministry of health through the state hospital management board.
This inspection tour of the plant by UNICEF and partners, IHS Nigeria, is both to closely monitor the sustainability and efficiency of the plant as well as to ascertain the level of operation.
The UNICEF field officer Anslem Audu called on the state government to address the electricity problem at the plant so as to sustain its operations and reduce the energy cost.
The authorities of the Eleme General Hospital informed the visitors that the plant has been functioning optimally, supplying oxygen to teaching hospitals and other public and private hospitals in the state.
The medical director of the hospital, Claribelle Leechi -Okere, expressed worries over the cost of production and transportation of the oxygen due to the current high cost of diesel in the country.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
