A new initiative aims to expand medical oxygen production and supply in East Africa by strengthening local manufacturers’ capacity and using a mix of financing instruments.
Medical oxygen is a lifesaver for a range of illnesses and conditions, such as pneumonia and hypoxemia — oxygen deficiency in the blood. But it’s not widely accessible in low-resource settings. One estimate finds nearly 25 million deaths annually are due to lack of oxygen access.
During COVID-19, deaths were reported due to oxygen shortages in many places, including in parts of Africa. While there are companies producing and delivering medical oxygen on the continent, COVID-19 made clear that it wasn’t enough.