Kenya’s Ministry of Health has enhanced its healthcare capacity with the launch of a new consignment of oxygen delivery equipment in Nairobi, supported by the Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Oxygen Infrastructure Project.
The initiative represents a major milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen health systems and ensure reliable access to medical oxygen—particularly for patients in rural and underserved regions.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale emphasized the government’s commitment to improving healthcare quality across all counties.
“This milestone represents significant progress in strengthening our health systems and ensuring every Kenyan—from newborns to patients in critical care—has access to safe and reliable oxygen therapy,” Duale said.
The fully funded Global Fund shipment includes 470 multiparameter patient monitors, 10,000 wall outlet flowmeters, and 612 oxygen analysers, all to be distributed across 47 counties. This complements the 20,620 oxygen cylinders already supplied nationwide, forming a more resilient oxygen network.
According to the Ministry of Health, this project is part of a long-term plan to build a sustainable oxygen ecosystem to support emergency and critical care services. Reliable oxygen remains essential for treating pneumonia, asthma, COVID-19, COPD, and other respiratory diseases.
Duale also highlighted plans for sustainability, including biannual equipment calibration, ongoing training for health workers, and capacity building for biomedical engineers.
“We are ensuring that oxygen equipment is well-maintained, staff are trained, and hospitals are prepared to deliver quality care at all times,” he added.
The Health CS further urged county governments to allocate budgets for preventive maintenance and spare parts to guarantee consistent functionality.
The project is being implemented with support from Amref Health Africa, which oversees procurement and coordination. Duale commended both the Global Fund and Amref for their vital roles in advancing 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 senior health officials, including Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni, and Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth.
This latest delivery marks another significant milestone in Kenya’s mission to make life-saving oxygen accessible to every patient, ensuring that healthcare equity becomes a national reality.