200 new UNICEF oxygen concentrators to bolster COVID-19 response

Antananarivo, May 18, 2021: UNICEF has received 200 new oxygen concentrators do be used in hospitals providing treatment to patients suffering from COVID-19.

This donation from UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen will help build a more resilient healthcare response for patients requiring the administration of medical oxygen.

Contributing to the pandemic response and in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF has delivered over the last three weeks more than 700 bottles of oxygen per day to hospitals across the country treating patients for COVID-19 through contracts with local and international suppliers.

Both the supply of oxygen in the form of cylinders and the concentrators are part of UNICEF's support to the Project Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Public Health and to the Government of Madagascar, to assist in their response to the COVID-19 emergency. The partnership between UNICEF and the government is funded by the World Bank, with additional emergency funds from the United Nations, the Danish government, and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

UNICEF’s support also includes the supply and upgrading of oxygen cylinders to provide care of persons with moderate, severe and critical symptoms, as well as the refurbishment and purchase of oxygen concentrators in priority areas across the country.

In 2020, nearly 12,771 oxygen cylinders funded by UNICEF were used for oxygen therapy of COVID-19 patients and 21 oxygen concentrators were delivered to hospitals in the regions of Analamanga, Haute Matsiatra and Anosy. For the second wave, 9,802 oxygen cylinders have been delivered to patients to date in 35 centres and hospitals in 11 regions since early January 2021.