By Hussaini Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has commenced the validation of a strategic plan aimed at strengthening access to medical oxygen across healthcare facilities in the state, in what officials describe as a major step toward reducing preventable deaths and improving emergency response.
The initiative, led by the State Ministry of Health, focuses on reviewing and validating the State Strategy for the Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen in Health Facilities.
The process seeks to ensure that oxygen—a critical component in emergency and maternal healthcare—becomes reliably available across all levels of service delivery.
According to a statement issued and signed by Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa, Public Relations Officer, Kano State Ministry of Health, the meeting was held on Monday at Hotel Seventeen in Kaduna.
It brought together senior government officials, healthcare experts, and development partners. The session was chaired by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, who said the review aligns with the government’s vision to strengthen healthcare delivery under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration.
Dr. Labaran noted that medical oxygen plays an indispensable role in saving lives during surgeries, childbirth complications, respiratory illnesses, and child emergencies.
“Our goal is to ensure no patient loses their life due to lack of oxygen,” the Commissioner said. “This strategy provides a roadmap for building infrastructure, enhancing technical capacity, and improving the supply chain that supports oxygen delivery across all healthcare facilities.”
Participants at the meeting examined several components of the draft framework, including oxygen generation systems, training of technical personnel, maintenance of equipment, and mechanisms for funding and sustainability.
They also reviewed plans for improved data management, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure that oxygen services are both efficient and equitable.
Health experts at the session emphasized that reliable access to oxygen is vital to achieving universal health coverage and strengthening the resilience of health systems, particularly in low-resource settings such as rural communities.
Representatives of development partners including the World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, EU, Canada, Norway, and Gavi commended Kano’s proactive approach. They described the initiative as a model for subnational health leadership in northern Nigeria.
“Kano’s efforts show what political commitment and data-driven planning can achieve. Scaling up oxygen availability means more mothers, newborns, and patients with respiratory distress can get timely care,” one of the partners noted.
According to officials, the validation exercise will culminate in a strategic policy document that will guide oxygen-related interventions across the state.
Once implemented, the framework will prioritize sustainable production, affordable access, and equitable distribution of oxygen in both primary and secondary health facilities.
Health observers say the development could help reduce child and maternal mortality rates in Kano, where oxygen shortage has previously been a challenge in emergency units.
Dr. Labaran reaffirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging data, innovation, and partnerships to achieve better health outcomes.
“Data is now the currency of development,” he said. “With this strategy, we are ensuring that every life-threatening emergency—from delivery complications to respiratory infections—can be managed effectively.”
The oxygen scale-up plan is part of Kano State’s broader health reform agenda, which includes the revitalization of primary healthcare centres, the establishment of a state situation room for tracking health emergencies, and the promotion of evidence-based planning across all sectors.