- The plant funded by USAID is capable of making medical-grade oxygen from air and filling 10 cylinders in 24 hours.
- While commissioning the plant, Deputy Governor said all the health facilities across the county would get their oxygen from the plant.
Marsabit County Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo on Monday commissioned an oxygen manufacturing plant and blood bank at Marsabit Referral Hospital.
The oxygen plant will supply gas to all the sub-county hospitals.
The plant funded by USAID is capable of making medical-grade oxygen from air and filling 10 cylinders in 24 hours.
While commissioning the plant, Deputy Governor said all the health facilities across the county would get their oxygen from the plant.
"The county has been spending a lot of money every year buying the gas. This is now behind us. All the health facilities will get their gas from the plant," said Deputy Governor
He reaffirmed that the oxygen plant which has been installed and continues functioning was a big relief to county residents.
He as county government, they are excited to be one of the five counties that benefitted from the donation.
"The plant will give crucial oxygen to all the theatres in all the hospitals and will save patients' lives who have previously been forced to travel long distances whenever they require oxygen," Gubo said.
"We are privileged to receive much-valued development support. We have received a donation of this oxygen plant from USAID," he said
He said the investment promises a better future for people needing oxygen therapy from children with pneumonia to adults with severe tuberculosis and other respiratory condition like asthma.
"The oxygen plant will bring to an end the daily wheeling of oxygen cylinders to wards and theatre by hospital staff," he said
The Deputy county boss said the plant will go a long way in boosting the oxygen across all the health facilities revealing that this is a much-needed addition to the oxygen ecosystem within the county.
"When we had our facilities going down, we had to source oxygen from Nairobi. This facility commissioned today will help us save a lot of money that was being used to purchase oxygen and refill our oxygen cylinders. As we make that saving we will be committed to investing in our healthcare systems," he said
Deputy Governor said it has been a dream for Governor Mohamud that residents receive services at their doorstep cutting on the baggage of doing long travels seeking critical services from neighbouring counties.
He emphasized that having access to reliable medical oxygen is within the confines of the right to health.
Gubo pointed out that the plant will assist in improving the health systems in the county and it serves as one of the important instruments to mitigate the impact of disease.
"The oxygen plant is expected to end oxygen shortages at hospitals within the county because it will ensure a sufficient supply of the commodity," he said.
He thank USAID for their support in the installation of the oxygen plant saying both the World Bank and USAID supported the county government in coping with the overwhelming systemic burden of the COVID-19 pandemic with significant financial support.
He said the organisation's commitment to supporting the county government in building a community-led and people-centred primary health system remains unwavering.
"The blood and oxygen help save lives and their provision is a critical component of medical emergencies," he said
He said both the Blood Bank and oxygen plant is critical to marsabit Referral Hospital's infrastructure which includes the Renal unit, Intensive care unit, cancer unit and regional biosafety laboratory.
Solomon said the county government under the leadership of Governor Mohamud Ali has continued to make significant progress in healthcare services and is committed to providing efficient, effective and responsive health services.
He reassured partners that the county government will avail funds for the maintenance of the facility and continually enhance the capacity of the staff for the proper operation, maintenance and management of the plant.
The Deputy Governor also launched the first-ever Blood Bank at the county's Referral Hospital.
The launch marks an end to more than three decades of reliance on the National Blood Transfusion in Nairobi.
The absence of a blood bank in the county has over the years proven to be a huge challenge to the health sector with the county recording numerous blood shortages that forced it to acquire blood as far as Nairobi.
The presence of a blood bank centre will help save lives by ensuring patients get blood within the county instead of being referred to other counties.
The Deputy Governor during the opening of the centre said the establishment of the facilities is a major milestone towards promoting access to Universal Health coverage.
"This blood bank lays a foundation for the provision of comprehensive services for patients with bleeding disorders and other related diseases that requires a blood transfusion," he said
" The Blood Bank launched today will fill the gap by supplying blood to all the level 4 hospitals in the county and reduce preventable deaths related to blood loss and deficiency."
He revealed that Marsabit Referral Hospital has 8 medical doctors among them surgeons, consultants and general medical practitioners adding that there is a plan in place to have more specialists for effective healthcare services for the residents.
Speaking at the event, USAID Acting Deputy mission director John Kuehnle said the oxygen plant commissioned is a step towards strengthening the county's healthcare system to enable citizens to lead prosperous lives.
He said the plant will go a long way in addressing most of the illnesses at the primary levels adding that oxygen is a critical element that will enable doctors to deal with both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
"By donating this oxygen plant, USAID is fulfilling its commitment to support the strengthening of the healthcare system and support the expansion of its primary healthcare and continue to improve health outcomes for county's citizens so that they can lead prosperous and fulfilling lives," said USAID Acting Deputy mission director
He added:
"This oxygen plant commissioned today is one of the five oxygen plants that the US government is spending about Sh28 million because we believe in the health of the people."
Health executive Grace Galmo said in the previous years there have been challenges faced by patients requiring urgent blood transfusion and the new facility will save patients the high cost of money spent while seeking medical help outside the county.
She urged residents to take advantage of the presence of the blood bank to upscale voluntary donations to replenish the county's blood reserve.
Galmo said the reform at the health facilities had improved service delivery leading to an increased number of patients seeking treatment in public facilities saying the reform will ensure that healthcare is accessible and affordable to all.
Marsabit County Assembly Health Committee chair Adhi Buno commended the reforms in the health sector and thanked the management of the facility for the rollout of the health management system and assure the assembly's support.
"We have seen the transformation in our health facilities and we want to reiterate our support to our governor to continue on this trajectory," she said
Marsabit central MCA Jacob Elisha urged residents to respond to appeals to donate blood to save lives.
"Donating blood helps our people that will be brought to our local hospitals and in need of blood transfusion," he said