100% solar-powered oxygen supply for newborns
A first-in-the-world engineering solution is changing the face of oxygen supply, for every child in Nigeria
The Challenge
Oxygen is a life-saving medical gas for treating respiratory illnesses such pneumonia, a leading cause of death among children under five in Nigeria. Around 13% of Nigerian children with pneumonia suffer from hypoxemia - an abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood - which increases their risk of death fivefold.
Ensuring the availability of medical oxygen can significantly improve survival rates for children suffering from pneumonia and other severe respiratory illnesses.
However, the challenges in making oxygen accessible are multifaceted. Infrastructure deficits like unreliable electricity is one of the biggest obstacles hindering oxygen therapy delivery. Power is not reliably available and when it is, there are high costs to the health facility that are often passed on to patients.
The Solution
In 2023, UNICEF supported the Federal Government in implementing a multi-faceted approach focusing on innovative solutions, including the solarization of oxygen plants and the Oxygen System Planning Tool. This strategy aims to mitigate the challenges posed by unreliable electricity supply, which is crucial for the continuous operation of oxygen plants.
In October 2023, UNICEF launched an innovative engineering design challenge to develop clean, renewable energy solutions for powering oxygen plants. Through this challenge, UNICEF engaged with private sector partners to design and implement modular solar microgrid systems with battery storage for uninterrupted oxygen production.
The winning solution, a first-in-the-world engineering feat, has been installed and tested in two Nigerian hospitals in Kano and Oyo States, demonstrating the feasibility of using solar power to meet the unique energy requirements of oxygen plants. The two 100% solarized plants, in addition to seven other Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants and six level II newborn units installed in selected states, were instrumental in bolstering healthcare infrastructure and medical oxygen provision for children.
The Impact
A key achievement of the solarization initiative is the proven viability of the solution in increasing electricity reliability for oxygen facilities. This reliability will ensure that life-saving oxygen is consistently available for children suffering from pneumonia, newborns with respiratory distress, and other critical care patients. Implemented at scale, the innovation also has the potential to make oxygen production and operation more sustainable and affordable, addressing a critical barrier that previously hindered the availability of oxygen in many healthcare facilities.
Furthermore, solarization will also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The successful installation and testing of completely solarized oxygen plants marked a pioneering effort in powering PSA oxygen provision entirely with renewable energy, signalling Nigeria’s and UNICEF’s commitment to promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly healthcare practices. These efforts will be instrumental in reducing preventable deaths, particularly among children under five, who are disproportionately affected by pneumonia.
The training of healthcare workers and community health influencers has further bolstered the capacity to manage and treat hypoxemia and other oxygen-related conditions. The decentralization of training and capacity building sessions at all levels improved government ownership and achieved coverage numbers of beneficiaries through the trainings, resulting in improved quality of care across service delivery platforms at the sub-national level.
While the technical aspects of solarization have been successful, the need for comprehensive and continued training and capacity-building among healthcare workers at the subnational levels (zonal, state, and local government level) is critical. Ensuring that staff are well-versed in operating and maintaining solar-powered oxygen plants is essential for the long-term success of these initiatives.
