600 oxygen concentrators donated to Benin by the people of China through UNICEF.
Equipment intended to strengthen the management of life-threatening emergencies in 23 health districts across the country.
The Government of Benin has received 600 oxygen concentrators to bolster the response to life-threatening medical emergencies in health facilities across the country, with support from UNICEF and thanks to the generosity of the people of the Republic of China.
Medical oxygen is a critical lifeline in efforts to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality. The new equipment will be deployed across 23 of Benin’s 34 health zones, reaching at least 23 hospitals and more than 230 health centres, in the departments of Alibori, Littoral, Atacora, Borgou, Donga, Couffo and Atlantique. The concentrators are expected to improve the quality of care, particularly for mothers, newborns and children facing life-threatening complications.
China and UNICEF reaffirm commitments
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, UNICEF Representative in Benin Ousmane Niang described the donation as a powerful sign of solidarity. “This act of solidarity by the Chinese people is a concrete expression of our shared commitment to strengthening Benin’s health system,” he said.
He praised the Government of Benin’s efforts to improve maternal and child health, highlighting the 2025–2028 emergency plan, which aims to cut maternal mortality by 15 per cent and neonatal mortality by 10 per cent each year. “This plan reflects an ambition that matches both the scale of the challenge and Benin’s determination to meet it,” he added.
S.E.M. ZHANG Wei, Ambassador of the Republic of China underlined the human dimension of the initiative, noting that the equipment was financed through the mobilization of individual Chinese donors. “These oxygen concentrators bear witness to the deep bond of solidarity between our two peoples,” he said, adding that they “open up new prospects for partnership and strengthen our shared commitment to building a community of health for all.”
A lever for reducing child deaths
Benin’s Minister of Health, Professor Benjamin Hounkpatin, welcomed the donation as further proof of strong cooperation between Benin, China and UNICEF. “This contribution is a testament to the excellent quality of our partnership,” he said.
He stressed once again that access to oxygen is a major lever for reducing maternal, neonatal and child mortality, and pledged that the Government would ensure the proper use and maintenance of the concentrators to guarantee lasting impact for the population.
Valued at more than US$205,450 — over 116 million XOF — the 600 oxygen concentrators are set to expand access to essential health services for communities across the country. “This support complements efforts already under way to address gaps in infrastructure and human resources,” the Minister noted, calling it “an intervention that buys the precious minutes needed to stabilize a patient and save a child — a real safeguard against death.”
The power of individual giving
Individual donations are a strategic pillar of UNICEF’s work, giving the organization flexible and sustainable resources to deliver results for children. Unlike institutional funding, which is often earmarked for specific projects, contributions from individual supporters allow UNICEF to respond quickly in emergencies while sustaining long-term programmes in health, education, nutrition and child protection.
They are central to UNICEF’s resource mobilization strategy: they diversify funding sources, strengthen the organization’s financial resilience and reduce dependence on traditional financing, all while reflecting strong civic engagement in favour of children’s rights.
