UNICEF statistics reveal that Nigeria alone contributes to the second-highest number of newborn deaths per year globally. In this piece, Joyce Remi-Babayeju reports that UNICEF donation of oxygen gas plants has reduced the prevalence of newborn deaths in Rivers State.
UNICEF report reveals that Nigeria has the world’s second highest number of babies deaths with infant mortality currently at 69 per 1,000 live births, while under-fives stands at 128 per 1,000 live births.
Investment in this sector has been high recently, although the proportion of patients who can access appropriate treatment remains low.
But the recent medical oxygen gas plants donation by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, to ten primary healthcare centres, PHCs, in Eleme Local Government Area, LGA, has reduced the high rate of neonatal deaths in Rivers State to rock bottom level.
UNICEF, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, has installed over 60 medical oxygen gas plants in Eleme General Hospital in Rivers State to reduce incidents of newborn asphyxia and child deaths.
The funds provided by UNICEF are aimed at upgrading Primary Healthcare Centres facilities for improved health care services, particularly for indigents of Rivers State.
The Director, Primary Healthcare and Medical Officer for Health, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, Alexander Anachi during a UNICEF Media field trip to the health facility told journalists that the impact of the UNICF funded medical oxygen gas plant has really impacted positively by reducing incidences of mortality and mobility among babies in Rivers State.
While revealing the positive impact of the oxygen gas plants in Eleme General Hospital, Dr. Anachi said, ” the impact of the oxygen concentrator cylinders plants cannot be over emphasized; the donation by UNICEF overtime has certainly yielded positive results in the sense that our mortality and mobility has reduced.”
Anachi cited an example of how the oxygen gas equipment has saved the life of a newborn at the hospital. He said” even yesterday a baby who had mild Asphyxia was managed with oxygen concentrator at the facility and the baby recovered, adding that in the past when there was no such equipment, there were referrals from the local government hospital to other health facilities, or they may seek for alternative herbal means due to lack of money, and you will hear that the child is dead.
But the story has changed today because they don’t need to spend any money and the services are free”, he emphasized.
The Medical health practitioner, however, noted that the only challenge is the source of power to support the cold chain except in Apajoh PHC, adding that to maintain the high standard of services the facility is being supported by multiple power sources.
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Chief Medical Director, Hospital Management Board, General Hospital, Eleme, Dr. Bright Ogbondah who spoke to Journalists during a field tour to the Model Primary Healthcare Centre located in Akpajo – Eleme, Rivers State, said that the plant was donated by UNICEF in August last year and has since been running and producing medical oxygen for the entire Rivers State.
Dr Ogbondah emphasized,” Since the oxygen gas plant was commissioned, we have had fewer cases of hypoxia in our hospitals.
According to the doctor, UNICEF built Eleme General Hospital produces an estimated 160 litres daily in extreme cases and about 40 litres daily, and this enables the facility to supply private hospitals with the oxygen for emergencies
He noted that the oxygen plants have gone a long way in alleviating the plight of the people, especially for patients in rural communities.
UNICEF has come to our rescue, it has built and equipped the neonatal healthcare unit at the Eleme General Hospital by providing medical oxygen plants to meet the needs of patients, so we are indeed delighted, he said.
The UNICEF Media Dialogue held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was to enable journalists to have an interface with patients who are the end users of the oxygen equipment , health workers as well as inspect the hospital facilities.
Speaking at the Medical Oxygen Plant located at Ncha in Eleme, Ogbondah explained that the impact of the oxygen has been of immense help in the treatment of complications from childbirth and other critical illnesses.
Ogbondah said, “The initiative to establish the oxygen plant came during the outbreak of COVID-19 and a desperate demand for oxygen ventilators to take care of emergency cases at the isolation centre located within Eleme General Hospital.”
“With the slowing down of COVID-19 cases, the oxygen plant has turned its attention to supplying medical oxygen to hospitals within the area, including the newly established Neonatal Healthcare Centre,”
The Chief Medical Director at the neonatal clinic , Dr. Leechi Okere told journalists that the clinic was recently opened for operations, but people are not yet fully aware of its services.
At an earlier visit to the Primary Healthcare Centre in Akpajo in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Director, Public Health and Disease Control in the state, Dr. Ndubisi Akpah attested that the collaboration between the state and UNICEF has enhanced tremendous improvement to healthcare service delivery in the communities.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office Dr. Anslem Otobo Audu called for more investment in health facilities to improve children’s healthcare, especially the newborn.
He implored that this can be done by providing more funds towards upgrading of the Primary Healthcare Centres.
Audu said that neonatal healthcare and childhood illnesses have remained pressing challenges in Nigeria where too many children still face premature deaths and debilitating health issues that could otherwise be prevented.
He noted that although the country has witnessed remarkable progress in maternal and child health, the government must continue to implement interventions that ensure every child receives the healthcare they deserve from the moment they are born.
“It is crucial that we strengthen our healthcare systems, increase access to quality services, and raise awareness, he emphasized.
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