Why Kafanchan Oxygen Plant Is Necessary – Commissioner

The Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina Mohammed Baloni, has said that healthcare delivery service will receive a boost in Kaduna state, with the commissioning of an oxygen plant at the Sir Patrick Yakowa General Hospital last week at Kafanchan.

Explaining the significance of the project, the commissioner said that the plant will provide major access to medical oxygen which is vital in emergencies, adding that before now, ‘’we had to buy oxygen for use in our theatres, wards and labour rooms.’’

Dr Mohammed Baloni said that the plant was donated by Global Fund, which is an international financing and partnership organization that aims to attract, leverage and invest resources to end the epidemics and malaria as well as support the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.

The commissioner said that with the commissioning of the Kafanchan plant, ‘’we can now generate oxygen for free and be able to distribute to all our hospitals and clinics.’’

According to her, there will be three of such plants across the state as ‘’there is already one in the 300 bed Specialist Hospital which will soon be in use. There is one at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria and one has just been commissioned at Kafanchan.‘’

Dr Mohammed Baloni promised that there are plans to build three additional oxygen plants at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital in Kaduna, Hajiya Gambo Sawaba Hospital Zaria and Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna.

The commissioner commended Governor Nasir El-Rufai for always giving due priority to the health sector, adding that in the last six years, health and education sectors have received a large chunk of the yearly budget.