The Kano State Ministry of Health has commenced a technical review meeting to validate the State Strategy for the Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities.
The exercise is aimed at improving the availability, distribution, and effective use of medical oxygen across all tiers of healthcare delivery in the state.
The meeting, chaired by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, began at Hotel Seventeen in Kaduna and brought together senior government officials, development partners, public health experts, and representatives of medical institutions.
The session is focused on refining the draft strategy to ensure it is practical, evidence-based, and aligned with global health standards.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Yusuf stressed the lifesaving importance of medical oxygen, noting that it is essential for emergency care, maternal and child health, surgical procedures, and the treatment of respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia.
He added that the initiative reflects the commitment of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration to strengthen healthcare delivery and reduce preventable deaths in the state.
“Our goal is simple, no patient in Kano State should die due to lack of medical oxygen.
“This strategy provides a clear roadmap for scaling up oxygen production, maintenance systems, and supply chain management to ensure reliable access in all health facilities,” he said.
Participants reviewed key components of the draft framework, including sustainable oxygen generation and storage systems, workforce capacity building, equipment installation and maintenance, financing and sustainability mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation structures
Development partners commended the state government for taking a proactive step toward health system reform, describing the initiative as timely and critical to achieving universal health coverage. They pledged technical support for the implementation phase.
The meeting is expected to conclude with a validated strategic document that will guide policy implementation and long-term investment in oxygen systems.
Once approved, the plan will be rolled out across secondary and primary healthcare facilities, reinforcing Kano State’s leadership in health innovation in Northern Nigeria.
Credit: Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa
