Makinde Commissions Solarized Oxygen Plant, Level 2 Newborn Unit **Launches Strategy for Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen**

Makinde Commissions Solarized Oxygen Plant, Level 2 Newborn Unit

**Launches Strategy for Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen**

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde commissioned Nigeria’s first solarized Medical Oxygen Pressure Swing Adsorption Plant and a Level 2 Newborn Unit at Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, on Wednesday. This initiative marks a significant step in improving healthcare infrastructure and service delivery in Oyo State.

In a statement signed by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, it was revealed that the governor also launched the Oyo State Strategy for the Scale-up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities (2024-2028). Governor Makinde reiterated his administration’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services and supporting innovative initiatives aimed at bettering healthcare outcomes in the state.

The governor highlighted the importance of the new strategy, aligning it with his administration’s broader agenda to establish enduring institutions that will ensure the state runs smoothly in the future. He thanked UNICEF, the Federal Ministry of Health, and IHS, among other partners, for their collaboration in the health sector. Additionally, he announced plans to recruit more doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to address personnel shortages.

“Any project that will improve the healthcare system in Oyo State is important to us because it fits into our administration’s plan to move the people of Oyo State from poverty to prosperity,” Governor Makinde said. He emphasized that healthcare has been a cornerstone of his administration’s Roadmap to Accelerated Development (2019-2023) and the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development (2023-2027).

Reflecting on his administration’s accomplishments, Governor Makinde noted, “In the last five years, we have prioritized projects in the healthcare sector. We have rehabilitated and upgraded at least 210 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across the state, increasing our budgetary allocation to healthcare to an average of eight percent over the past five years.”

Makinde also recalled the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “We upgraded and equipped facilities to isolate patients, and thankfully, we did not lose anyone to COVID-19 in this facility. We prioritized long-term investments in our healthcare infrastructure over temporary measures.”

The governor expressed gratitude to donor agencies for their support, emphasizing the importance of the new facilities, which include a Newborn Unit, Laying-in Ward, and Labour Room, all supported by a solar energy system. “Your partnership has brought this project to fruition, and we are immensely grateful,” he said.

UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, praised Governor Makinde’s efforts and urged other governors to follow his example. “This milestone represents our shared commitment to improving maternal and child health in Oyo State and across Nigeria,” she stated.

Dr. Olanrewaju Sulaimon, Assistant Director of the Federal Ministry of Health, described the new plant as a beacon of hope, symbolizing a shared commitment to providing quality healthcare for all, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, highlighted that the solarized Medical Oxygen Pressure Swing Adsorption Plant is the first of its kind in Nigeria and marks a significant achievement for the state. She commended the collaborative efforts that led to this success, underscoring the power of dedication and teamwork in addressing critical healthcare gaps.

The event was attended by top government officials, including Deputy Governor Barrister Bayo Lawal, Secretary to the State Government Professor Olanike Adeyemo, Chief of Staff Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, and Head of Service Mrs. Olubunmi Oni.