Juba installs oxygen unit as supplies become paramount

JUBA – South Sudan has installed the first-ever medical oxygen production plants in Juba to meet the increased demand amid COVID-19.

The plants, which can produce medical oxygen to fill more than 200 cylinders a day, installed behind Juba Teaching Hospital in African Development Bank Group-backed project.

Elizabeth Achuei, Minister of Health noted that the new establishment is a great milestone in the health sector since it would help in handling the great demand for oxygen amid the third wave.

“The installment of oxygen plant is good will help the people of South Sudan and this mark the beginning of the country preparedness for oxygen generation to tackle the third wave,” Achuei said.

Achuei said that although the COVID-19 remains a major threat to the country, her Ministry is putting measures in place to ensure timely respond to the pandemic.

Dr. Victoria Stephen Majur, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health said the oxygen plant is a good investment to the country not only for COVID-19 response but to support health service delivery.

“Oxygen is not only essential for COVID, it goes beyond COVID. It is used for infections such as pneumonia, asthma, and also in new-born and in operating theaters and beyond COVID,” Stephen said.

Benedict Sorie Kanu, Country Manager of African Development Bank described the plant as a watershed to strengthen the country’s health system to respond to COVID-19 and other diseases.

“The 9, 80,000 U.S dollar invested in oxygen generation the plant is a watershed in our efforts to strengthen the health system in this country to make sure we are better prepared for COVID and other health emergencies,” Kanu said.

In June 2020, the African Development Bank provided $4.2 million grant to South Sudan through World Health Organization to strengthen the country’s health system.

Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, World Health Organization Country Reprehensive  said that “The plant together with its accessories has cost closure to 25% of the whole grant as it includes the plant, generators, offices and housing.”