Ruto flags off 20,620 oxygen cylinders to counties

President William Ruto on Monday flagged off medical oxygen cylinders to counties across the country.

The President flagged off 20,620 medical oxygen cylinders to aid counties in transforming the healthcare system.

"As we flag off 20,620 medical oxygen cylinders for delivery to the 47 counties, let us reflect deeply upon, but also appreciate with gratitude and celebrate an exemplary partnership that has remained committed and transformative," he said.

The medical oxygen cylinders were from a collaboration with Global Fund grants.

"We are highly encouraged by the success of our partnership and further emboldened in our mission to deliver to the people of Kenya a healthcare system worthy of their aspirations and consistent with our ambitions for socio-economic transformation," Ruto said.

Ruto said Global Fund through Amref Medical has donated funds amounting to 41.7 million dollars to support oxygen supply and comprehensive infrastructure improvement.

"This covers refill of compressed and cryogenic oxygen, acquisition of tanks and cylinders, installation of high volume PSA oxygen generation plants and the piping and installation of manifolds as well as oxygen outlets to health facilities," Ruto said.

The President added that a major vulnerability highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic was the medical oxygen supply chain.

He said Kenya has a sub-optimal oxygen supply and poor infrastructure as a result of which it is minimally available in public health facilities.

"The pandemic drastically intensified demand for oxygen, raising its cost by more than 75 percent. As a result, Kenyans and their distressed families were driven into unprecedented desperation," Ruto said.

Ruto said the Global Fund grant to Kenya for 2021-2024 amounts to 441.5 million dollars.

He said the funds are implemented by various partners, including the National Treasury, Amref Health Africa and the Kenya Red Cross.

He said the National Treasury implements its portion through the Ministry of Health, NASCOP, Malaria and TB programmes, National Syndemic Disease Control Council, Health Systems Department, county governments and KEMSA.

On its part, Amref Health Africa implements the grant through 46 community organisations, while the Kenya Red Cross does so through 65 such organisations.