Governor Barasa said the initiative is a partnership between his administration and the Centre for Public Health and Development.
Ten health facilities in Kakamega County are set to benefit from improved access to reliable medical oxygen following the delivery of oxygen support equipment under the Oxygen as a Service (O2aaS) programme.
The programme is a partnership between the Kakamega County Government and the Centre for Public Health and Development (CPHD), aimed at strengthening oxygen availability at primary healthcare facilities and improving patient outcomes.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said the county had received a package of equipment that would enhance the capacity of health facilities to provide medical-grade oxygen to patients requiring respiratory support.
“The equipment package comprises 20 oxygen concentrators, two 5L/min concentrators per facility, 10 backup oxygen cylinders, 10 five-way oxygen splitters, pulse oximeters, volt guards and patient tubing, including cannulas and nebuliser masks,” Barasa said while inspecting the equipment.
The equipment will be distributed to Bushiri, Chekalini and Emusanda health centres, as well as Likuyani and Matungu Level 4 hospitals.
Other beneficiaries are Makunga Level 4 Hospital, Butere Level 4 Hospital, Khwisero Level 4 Hospital, Mukumu Mission Hospital and Iguhu Level 4 Hospital.
Kakamega County Executive for Health Services Dr Livingstone Imbayi said the initiative would contribute to improved healthcare delivery and patient outcomes by making oxygen therapy more readily available.
He said the rollout also included training healthcare workers on oxygen therapy protocols, equipment handling and clinical safety.
“The rollout exercise also included capacity building for healthcare workers on oxygen therapy protocols, equipment handling and clinical safety, as well as baseline data collection to support the programme’s three-year implementation period,” Imbayi said during the handover.
The handover was attended by Director of Medical Services Stephen Wandei and County Biomedical Engineer Marvin Nandwa.
The inclusion of biomedical engineering personnel is expected to support the safe operation, maintenance and continued functionality of the oxygen equipment at the beneficiary facilities.
Meanwhile, Barasa inspected recently delivered drugs and non-pharmaceutical supplies worth Sh60 million supplied by the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to Kakamega County General Hospital.
The consignment is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery and ensure facilities continue providing services to residents of Kakamega and neighbouring counties.
The governor also assessed the county’s oxygen plant, which has a production capacity of 1,200 litres of oxygen per minute. He urged hospital management to ensure the plant and related oxygen supplies are properly maintained to guarantee uninterrupted service.
National Efforts to Expand Oxygen Access
The Kakamega initiative comes amid wider national efforts to strengthen Kenya’s medical oxygen infrastructure.
Last year, the Ministry of Health flagged off a consignment of oxygen accessories under the Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism – Oxygen Infrastructure Project.
The consignment included 470 multiparameter patient monitors, 10,000 wall outlet flowmeters and 612 oxygen analysers for distribution to health facilities across all 47 counties. The supplies complemented 20,620 oxygen cylinders previously distributed nationwide.
Speaking during the flag-off, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the investment was part of efforts to build a resilient oxygen ecosystem and expand access to oxygen therapy as Kenya advances towards universal health coverage.
“This milestone represents significant progress in strengthening our health systems and ensuring every Kenyan, from newborns to patients in critical care, has access to safe and reliable oxygen therapy,” Duale said.
He noted that the equipment would support early oxygen therapy for newborns and patients experiencing respiratory distress, as well as those living with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia.
Duale also emphasised the importance of preventive maintenance and equipment calibration to ensure the long-term sustainability of the investment.
He said the ministry would support regular calibration and continued capacity building for healthcare workers, while urging county governments and health facilities to allocate funds for preventive maintenance, calibration and spare parts.
“We are united in purpose to move from oxygen availability to assured access in every ward, theatre, nursery, and ICU all the way to the last mile,” he said.
The CS was accompanied by Medical Services PS Ouma Oluga, Public Health PS Mary Muthoni, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth, representatives from Amref Health Africa and Head of the Health Products and Technologies Directorate Tom Menge.
Medical Oxygen Remains a Critical Health Need
Medical oxygen is essential in a wide range of healthcare services, including intensive care, surgery, maternity services, newborn care and the treatment of respiratory illnesses.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), about 60 per cent of the world’s population lacks access to safe and affordable medical oxygen.
The situation is particularly challenging in low- and middle-income countries, where many hospitals have historically lacked the infrastructure and equipment needed to provide reliable oxygen therapy.
Expanding oxygen production, distribution and maintenance capacity is therefore considered an important component of strengthening health systems and reducing preventable deaths.
The Global Fund-supported investment, together with county-level initiatives such as the O2aaS programme in Kakamega, is expected to improve the availability and reliability of oxygen therapy and ensure that patients can access life-saving respiratory support closer to where they receive care.
For Kakamega, the latest equipment rollout is expected to strengthen oxygen access at the ten beneficiary facilities while supporting the county’s broader efforts to improve healthcare services.
