UNICEF, IHS partner to expand access to oxygen for pneumonia, COVID-19 patients

UNICEF and IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of IHS Towers, have announced an 18 months partnership to help strengthen oxygen supply in hospitals for the treatment of pneumonia, COVID-19 and other hypoxemia disorders, particularly in new born babies and pregnant women.

The partnership aims to further support the Federal Ministry of Health in meeting demands for effective oxygen therapy in Nigeria.

According to UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins, “With limited access to supplemental oxygen, the line between life and death is blurred for critically ill patients with pneumonia and severe COVID-19 symptoms. This situation is unfortunately the reality for many. At UNICEF, we value our strong partnership with IHS Nigeria. It is only through joint efforts and the support of trusted partners like IHS Nigeria, that we can deliver robust healthcare and advance other sustainable development goals to all Nigerians.”

The Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish, said that they are delighted to be contributing further to the provision of healthcare in Nigeria.

IHS Nigeria has been a UNICEF partner since 2019. Under this new collaboration, oxygen plants will be installed in health facilities and incorporated into state specific oxygen resilience plans, including training healthcare workers on the safe administration of oxygen. The partnership covers Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers and Rivers states.

Oxygen is a life saving medical gas used to treat respiratory illnesses and support various healthcare provisions such as emergency obstetric care, surgery and anaesthesia. It is critical to improving health outcomes and reducing mortality due to pneumonia by 35%, yet seldom available and often expensive.

In Nigeria, over 120,000 children die each year due to hypoxemia.