Nigeria Loses 600,000 Lives Annually Due to Oxygen Issues

Professor Jesse Uneke, the Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUS) in Ebonyi State, stated that Nigeria loses over 600,000 people each year due to problems related to the administration of medical oxygen. This information was shared during the First Stakeholders’ Engagement Event/Co-Creation Workshop on Medical Oxygen Economy, organized by DUFUS in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and supported by the National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR), UK.

Uneke emphasized the need for a platform for stakeholders to address the research-policy interface concerning medical oxygen. The project has begun its first phase with interventions in three industrial areas in Ebonyi State, treating between 300 and 400 individuals free of charge.

Nigeria is one of five African countries involved in the EQUI-RESP Africa Research Project, which aims to enhance respiratory health outcomes. Uneke expressed gratitude for Nigeria's selection for this project, highlighting the significant work of Governor Francis Nwifuru's administration.