The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has pledged to support the Kano State Government in addressing oxygen security supply in the state.
Dr Peter Baffoe, Health Manager, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health UNICEF, Nigeria, made the pledge during a stakeholder meeting on the oxygen security supply system on Friday in Kano.
Baffoe, who described oxygen as “life and emergency medicine ” said that UNICEF, CHAI IHS Nigeria and other partners would brainstorm and see where and how they could work together to strengthen oxygen security supply in Kano.
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According to him, if the medical oxygen supply is strengthened in Kano and the country at large, it will be useful, even beyond the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic era.
He added that efforts to support the state with oxygen were geared towards ensuring that hospitals and appropriate health facilities in Kano, were re-equipped with functional oxygen delivery systems.
”The efforts of the state Ministry of Health and donor agencies particularly CHAI will enhance the hospital’s capacity in providing lifesaving oxygen therapy, thus strengthening Kano State’s oxygen delivery system,” he added.
Baffoe also lauded the state ministry of health for establishing an Oxygen Desk Committee in Kano.
He said the desk would go a long way in addressing and strengthening the oxygen security supply system in the state.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Tsanyawa, said that the government was trying to strengthen oxygen security in Kano, in order to address gaps observed as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemics.
Tsanyawa said that the ministry had established a committee called SMOH Oxygen Desk Committee, to institutionalise the oxygen supply systems in the state and coordinate efforts of various partners/organisations in achieving optimal oxygen systems.
Represented by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Hajiya Amina Musa, he added that the committee would also enable collaboration among partners/organisations, pooling of resources and the identification of gaps, in the state oxygen systems.
“We are currently receiving support from various partners on the institutionalisation of Oxygen Supply in the state which has commenced with support from CHAI and UNICEF on various aspects of Oxygen Security in Kano State.
”We hope other partners will join hands to support the state on this aspect,” he said.
The commissioner noted that improving the health status of residents was of great importance to the state government.
“Our administration is sparing no resources to ensure that our health facilities are functional and sufficiently stocked with drugs, equipment and consumables, including oxygen to adequately cater for the sick in our society,” he said.
Tsanyawa then commended the CHAI, UNICEF, for their support in improving the lives of Kano residents.
He also lauded other supporting partners such as NPHCDA, WHO, DFID Lafiya, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Africa CDC, Core Group among others.
Some stakeholders who spoke at the meeting commended the ministry of health and the donor agencies for organising the meeting at the right time, going by the challenges faced in the oxygen delivery system. (NAN)
