By Eunice Mwathi and Ivyn Kipruto
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has taken another major step toward improving healthcare delivery with the flag-off of a new consignment of oxygen equipment in Nairobi.
The consignment, launched under the Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Oxygen Infrastructure Project, marks a significant boost to the country’s efforts to ensure reliable oxygen access for patients, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Speaking during the flag-off, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the initiative reflects Kenya’s continued commitment to saving lives and strengthening health systems.
“This milestone represents significant progress in strengthening our health systems and ensuring that every Kenyan—from newborns to patients in critical care—has access to safe and reliable oxygen therapy,” said Duale.
Fully funded by the Global Fund, the shipment includes 470 multiparameter patient monitors, 10,000 wall outlet flowmeters, and 612 oxygen analysers to be distributed to hospitals across all 47 counties. The equipment complements the 20,620 oxygen cylinders previously supplied nationwide, forming a more robust and reliable oxygen supply network.
According to the Ministry of Health, the initiative is part of a broader plan to build a sustainable oxygen ecosystem—ensuring that every hospital, regardless of location, is equipped to handle emergencies and critical care. Reliable oxygen access remains vital in treating conditions such as pneumonia, asthma, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses.
CS Duale said the new equipment will help healthcare workers provide oxygen more efficiently, especially in intensive care units and newborn nurseries.
“This equipment will enhance early oxygen therapy for newborns and support patients experiencing respiratory distress or living with asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and other respiratory illnesses,” he said.
He emphasized sustainability through regular maintenance and capacity building.
“We will calibrate all equipment every six months, continue training health workers, and strengthen the skills of our biomedical engineers, pharmacists, and clinicians to manage and maintain this critical equipment,” Duale added.
The Cabinet Secretary also urged county governments to allocate funds for preventive maintenance and spare parts to ensure continuous functionality.
Duale commended the Global Fund for its financial support and Amref Health Africa for facilitating procurement and implementation, noting that strong partnerships remain central to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“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 affirmed.
The event was attended by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni, Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, Amref Health Africa Country Director Dr. Meshack Ndirangu, and Head of the Health Products and Technologies Directorate Tom Menge, among other senior officials.
The latest consignment marks another important milestone in Kenya’s mission to make life-saving oxygen not a privilege but a right accessible to every patient across the country.
