By Amaka Okafor
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system through improved medical oxygen infrastructure, capacity building and collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure better health outcomes for residents.
The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, made the declaration during the First Stakeholders’ Engagement and Co-Creation Workshop on the Medical Oxygen Economy held in Abakaliki under the EQUI-RESP Africa Research Project. The programme was hosted by the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), UK.
Obila said the state government recognizes medical oxygen as a critical component of healthcare delivery and has continued to invest in infrastructure aimed at improving access to life-saving oxygen services across health facilities in the state.
She noted that oxygen production plants have already been established in major health institutions, including the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), Onicha General Hospital and Mater Hospital, as part of efforts to address oxygen shortages and improve emergency care.
The Deputy Governor, however, stressed that infrastructure alone cannot guarantee efficient service delivery without adequately trained personnel to manage and maintain the facilities. “If you have something and you don’t have the technical know-how to manage it, it is as good as having nothing,” she stated.
She urged participants at the workshop to critically evaluate the current state of oxygen facilities across Ebonyi, identify existing gaps in infrastructure and manpower, and develop practical recommendations that would support government interventions in the sector. Obila assured stakeholders that the state government remains committed to supporting evidence-based solutions capable of building a sustainable medical oxygen economy.
In his remarks, the Nigerian and State Lead Principal Investigator of the EQUI-RESP Project and Vice Chancellor of DUFUHS, Prof. Jesse Uneke, said the workshop was designed to bring together critical stakeholders to identify challenges in the oxygen supply chain and develop context-specific solutions for improved healthcare delivery.
Uneke described medical oxygen as one of the most essential but often overlooked components of healthcare in Nigeria. According to him, poor access to oxygen and challenges associated with its administration contribute to more than 600,000 deaths annually in the country, many of which could be prevented through improved systems and infrastructure.
He explained that the project has entered its second phase with a focus on strengthening the medical oxygen economy. The initiative, he said, seeks to generate evidence that will bridge the gap between research, policy and practice while improving access to quality healthcare services.
The Vice Chancellor recalled that the first phase of the EQUI-RESP project focused on respiratory health interventions in industrial communities across Ebonyi State, including the Onueke quarry site, Abakaliki rice mill and timber market. He disclosed that between 300 and 400 residents benefited from free diagnosis, treatment and respiratory support services during the intervention.
Uneke further revealed that Nigeria is among five African countries selected for the EQUI-RESP project, alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, South Africa and Cameroon. He noted that research centres for the programme are located in Ebonyi and Lagos, attributing Ebonyi’s selection to its favourable research environment and government support for healthcare development.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of AE-FUTHA, Prof. Robinson Onoh, described the initiative as a multi-country and multi-centre effort aimed at addr
