The establishment of a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA), oxygen plant in Cross River State has been celebrated as a transformative development in healthcare delivery, particularly for maternal, newborn, and child health.
Speaking during a Media Dialogue and Fieldwork on Small and Sick and Zero Dose Assessment organized by UNICEF in Calabar, Dr. Takim highlighted the plant’s pivotal role in improving health outcomes.
According to the Medical Superintendent of General Hospital Calabar and Manager of the PSA Plant, Dr. Kenneth Takim, the facility has drastically boosted oxygen supply across Calabar and surrounding regions, significantly reducing cases of hypoxia-related conditions.
“The PSA plant, commissioned in May 2024 by Governor Bassey Edet Otu, has a production capacity of 300 liters per minute. This has alleviated oxygen shortages and contributed significantly to reducing infant morbidity and mortality associated with hypoxemia,” he said.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the plant can fill 20-liter oxygen cylinders in under two hours and 40-liter cylinders in less than four hours.
“This is the largest oxygen plant in Cross River State, surpassing similar installations in the region, facilities as far as the central and northern districts now rely on it for their oxygen needs,” Dr. Takim noted.
Dr. Takim said that despite its success, the PSA plant faces challenges, including staffing shortages and logistical difficulties in delivering oxygen to remote health facilities.
“Plans are underway to decentralize operations, allowing for easier access to oxygen cylinders in other districts. We aim to establish additional centers within the next three months.
“Efforts are also being made to solarize the plant to reduce its dependence on diesel-powered generators, with support from partners like IHS. Healthcare providers across Cross River State have lauded the plant’s role in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.
“The availability of high-purity oxygen has greatly improved outcomes for patients with severe respiratory conditions. Although precise statistics on mortality reduction are pending, he underscored the plant’s lifesaving impact.”
During the visit, healthcare providers at the Ekpo Abasi Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) in Calabar South highlighted operational challenges.
Mrs. Bassey Oyama, the focal person for Ward 12 and head of the PHC, expressed gratitude to UNICEF for equipping the facility with a solar-powered refrigerator for vaccine storage and providing reliable power supply.
“We have light here 24 hours,” she said, adding that the solar energy system, complemented by a generator, ensures uninterrupted service delivery.
She noted critical gaps, such as a lack of trained staff and essential equipment like delivery couches and patient beds.
“We have the resuscitation kits, but not all staff have been trained due to lack of funds,” he explained, calling on UNICEF and other partners to assist in staff training and provide additional medical equipment.
The Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Vivian Mesembe-Otu, underscored broader systemic challenges.
“While many facilities, including PHCs, have solar-powered refrigerators, the state’s central cold store remains reliant on expensive diesel-powered generators.
“We are spending a lot of money on diesel. If UNICEF can help us solarize the central cold store, it will significantly reduce costs.
“Vaccine availability also remains a pressing concern. Although the Ekpo Abasi PHC has several routine immunization vaccines, including Penta, IPV, BCG, and OPV, the facility currently lacks the rotavirus vaccine due to stockouts and delays.
“Efforts are underway to expand high-performing centers like the Ekpo Abasi PHC through the forthcoming Impact Project, a revitalization initiative for primary healthcare across the state,” she noted.
The absence of a birth registrar at the PHC, which hampers real-time child registration data collection, was also highlighted as a priority area for intervention by UNICEF.
As part of the Media Dialogue, journalists visited various healthcare centers, including PHC Akpabuyo and the Small and Sick Center at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Parents shared their struggles in caring for their sick children, shedding light on the pressing need for improved healthcare services.
The PSA oxygen plant and the efforts of UNICEF and the state government represent critical strides in addressing healthcare challenges in Cross River State.
However, continued investments, strategic expansion, and robust partnerships are essential to achieving sustainable healthcare improvements for communities in need.
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