Our Correspondent
The gaps Nigeria experienced during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 was the reason Canada supported her with the building of nine oxygen plants in nine states worth $23 million, said the Canadian High Commissioner Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Christoff.
Christoff, explained when he visited the newly commissioned ‘Pressure Swing Adsorption Oxygen Plant’ at the Nchia General Hospital in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday.
The Canadian Envoy who is also the Permanent Representative of Canada to ECOWAS, said poverty is central to some of the challenges the Canadian government identified globally which he said worsened during the outbreak of COVID-19.
“This is a tangible example of where governments like the Government of Canada, UNICEF, WHO, the Rivers State Government and of course the healthcare system can come together and bring effective, focused and change to address shortcomings that ultimately if addressed can make a real difference to the general public.
“And I think this medical Oxygen Plant is doing just that. So it is my sincere joy to be here representing Canada and seeing how Canadian tax dollars have made a difference here in Nigeria,” he said.
While commending the Rivers State Government for commissioning the Oxygen Plant in early August, Christoff said, “I want to come and see it for myself. And I want to thank those who have facilitated this event today.
“You know poverty hits the world quite hard in ways that remain lingering in terms of the facts, and in the aftermath of all that we recognise, there are ways we need to come together to address shortcomings that were revealed during our nation’s response.
“During Covid, it was identified there were several gaps in the way that as an international community, we were not able to effectively address everything that came our way. One of those gaps of course was the issue of medical oxygen. Canada decided to make a concerted effort to support significant funding through UNICEF to address the shortage of medical oxygen across the globe.
“And so the Government of Canada provided $23 million to support the building of nine facilities across Nigeria including this one and to respond to similar gaps that we have identified during our response. So it is with great pride that I’m here today as Canada’s representative here in Nigeria.”
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, said the PSA Oxygen Plant underscores the ‘remarkable’ collaboration between the state and its international partners.
Oreh, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr Mekeke Igwe, further said the facility stands as a beacon of progress and a vital resource in the state’s quest to provide better medical care and ensure that no patient is deprived of the essential oxygen required for their treatment.
“This oxygen plant fills about 135 cylinders (20-1 litre bottles) in 24 hours and provides 720,000 litres of medical oxygen within the same time frame,” she said.
The Commissioner also commended the Canadian government’s commitment to fostering health innovations and its unwavering support towards strengthening healthcare systems in developing regions, she reaffirmed the dedication of the state to maintaining and operating the plant to the highest standards.
“We pledge to ensure that its benefits reach those who need them most and that it serves as a model of excellence in healthcare infrastructure,” she promised.
Speaking, the chief of the field office of UNICEF, Port Harcourt, Dr Anselem Audu, stated that the funding for the establishment of this plant was provided by the Canadian government, the IHS Towers through UNICEF, saying everything has been paid for.
Dr Audu said, “This is a dream come true. I was part of what happened during the COVID here, how we were looking for Oxygen night and day, and Oxygen was nowhere to be found. Today such a thing cannot happen if there is a need for Oxygen.”
He said the envoy’s visit to the facility symbolizes the commitment of the Canadian Government and the strong partnership of its government and UNICEF to ensure the latter provides life-saving medical facilities for children in its zone.