Why We Donated Oxygen Plant To Bauchi  – Munduate, UNICEF Representative In Nigeria

.Hands Facility To State Government 

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, has officially handed over the Oxygen Plant the fund donated to Bauchí State.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the General Hospital, Azare, on Tuesday, Munduate, explained that the gesture was motivated by the need to reduce neonatal deaths in the country.

“Nigeria has one of the highest rates of neonatal mortality in the world, that is why this is so crucial to reduce the trend,” she states.

Munduate said that the Oxygen Plant donated to Bauchí State was a milestone that demonstrated the  fund’s commitment to reducing  deaths of under five children to its barest minimum. 

The UNICEF Country Rep thanked  the State government  for its unwavering commitment to the well being of children.

She also appreciated the Government of Canada that supported  the Fund to deliver the Oxygen Plant facility.

“This is a testimony to what we can achieve in our mission to protect  children’s lives and provide  opportunities for a healthy society,” she stated.

She explained that facility will provide critical life saving interventions, especially for new born babies and children that suffer form phenomena and other respiratory diseases 

“You have no idea what number of lives of children that will be saved by this facility,” she stated.

She hoped the facility, including a New Born baby Unit  it  also donated to the General Hospital, Azare, are staffed by well trained health personnel to provide specialised care for premature new born babies.

“The facility will be maintained and utilised effectively to maximise the impact on the targets,” she said 

“UNICEF  remains committed to maintaining this support..

“We are celebrating, more than the narrative, a facility but progress and a healthier future for all children in Bauchi State.

“We look forward to the success stories of these facilities will provide for the people of Bauchi State.

“We can continue working together for a more prosperous  Bauchi where children are at centre of your investment”

In a welcome address,  Dr Muhammad Sani Dambam , the Buchi State Commissioner for Health, disclosed that over N1 billion was spent to construct the Oxygen project.

Dambam said before the coming of the facility, residents depended on neighbouring Kano  State.

He said during COVID 19 it became glaring that the state’s oxygen  capacity  was  low hence the establishment of Oxygen Plants at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa  Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and the Specialist Hospital , Bauchí respectively .

The Commissioner disclosed that two Oxygen Plants are in the pipeline to be established  in Ningi and Tafawa Balewa.

“The oxygen plant being handed over today is not going to be totally free but highly subsidised,” he stated, warning that the state government will not tolerant any form of mismanagement of the facility.

In a good will message, Saidu Barau, Director with IHS, one of the partners, said in Collaboration with UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Health ( FMH)  and Social Welfare,  State  health agencies, similar facilities had been built in Ogun ,  Cross River, Kano, Yobe Oyo,Kaduna and Ebonyi States.

Barau said access to the Oxygen Plant was necessary for vulnerable demographic groups such as children, elderly and those with respiratory diseases.

In her speech, Grace Isuwa, of the National Oxygen Desk of the FMH disclosed that the Oxygen Plant donated by UNICEF to General Hospital,  Azare, brings the total number of Oxygen Plants Across the country to nine under the partnership with UNICEF.

“On behalf of the FMH and Social Welfare I extend a sincere gratitude to UNICEF for the investment and the belief in this country,” Isuwa said.

Speaking shortly before receiving the Oxygen Plant from UNICEF, Governor Bala Mohammed expressed  his deep gratitude for the donation.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Honourable Auwal Jatau, said the donation  of the facility marked a milestone in the continuous journey to enhance and uplift health care service delivery in the state .

Mohammed said UNICEF’s commitment to improving the health and well being of the people of Nigeria  will not go unnoticed, adding that such partnership illuminates the path to sustainable development and enhances quality health care delivery 

He said that the oxygen plant  was a testimony of the state government’s commitment to partner with UNICEF and development partners to enhance healthcare delivery 

The governor requested for UNICEF’s additional support to provide solar energy in the facilities saying it will go a long way in addressing the challenges  of erratic power supply ensure the sustainability.

He also requested  the fund  to support the  establishment of a Special Care Unit in the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, to be linked to an already established  oxygen plant by the state government in the hospital