Ogun Govt, UNICEF, IHS Towers Jointly Commissions Oxygen Gas Plant In OOUTH

Ogun State Government in partnership with donor agencies including United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and IHS Towers Nigeria Ltd, has commissioned the first Oxygen Gas Plant, located within the premises of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu  

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi who revealed this during the commissioning, said the step became imperative to enhance life-sustaining treatments in health facilities across the State, following the challenge that confronted the nation at large in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak where more lives could have been saved but for the insufficient life-sustaining mechanisms.

The State’s scribe appreciated the support of the donor agencies for their efforts, maintaining that the project was another milestone achievement in actualising the public-private partnership drive of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration.

"Today's event is another testament to this administration's genuine commitment to improving the living standard of people of the State through public-private partnerships, and I affirm that this project was borne out of the passion our Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has for the sanctity of human lives and to enhance life expectancy among the young and the old’’.

Also speaking,the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker said the project opens a new chapter in the quest of the government to tackle preventable deaths of the young and adults, adding that it is a new success story that would boost the life of Asthmatic patients as well.

Coker, while lauding the Governor and partners for the initiative, said the gas plant would be open to public and private health facilities, noting that plans were underway to build five more gas plants to replicate the project across the three Senatorial Districts of the State.

Similarly, the UNICEF Chief, Lagos Field Office, Dr. Celine Lafoucriere expressed delight in partnering with the present government to save lives, noting that the development was in line with the core mandate of the agency in protecting children's rights, as the oxygen gas plant would greatly curb child mortality and avoidable deaths associated with poor life-sustaining systems.