By Prosper Mene
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the nation’s healthcare system by ensuring a stable, secure, and sustainable supply of medical oxygen, with particular emphasis on its life-saving role in maternal health and emergency care.
This development was highlighted on Tuesday, as the government stressed that reliable oxygen access is essential not only for routine treatments but also for addressing critical conditions such as obstetric emergencies, postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, and other complications that contribute to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rates.
Medical oxygen is classified as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO) and plays a pivotal role across healthcare levels, from primary facilities to tertiary hospitals. In maternal and neonatal care, it is vital for managing hypoxaemia during childbirth complications, caesarean sections, and newborn respiratory distress. Similarly, in emergency scenarios, including severe pneumonia, sepsis, trauma, and surgical procedures, uninterrupted oxygen supply can significantly reduce mortality.
The push aligns with ongoing national efforts, including the National Strategy for the Scale-up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities (2023-2027), which focuses on building resilient oxygen ecosystems through infrastructure expansion, coordination via state-level oxygen desks, and integration into broader health guidelines. Recent initiatives have included partnerships with organizations like the United for Oxygen (U4O) Coalition to shift from merely expanding infrastructure to guaranteeing reliable delivery in facilities.
Officials emphasized that medical oxygen has evolved into a core element of health security, especially for pandemic preparedness, child health, and reducing preventable deaths. Nigeria continues to face challenges with inconsistent supply chains, particularly in rural and underserved areas, but government actions aim to enhance local production, maintenance of equipment like oxygen plants and cylinders, and equitable distribution.
Stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, have called for actionable steps to ensure oxygen availability translates into tangible health outcomes, ultimately saving lives in maternal, child, and emergency contexts.
