A Sh2.8 Billion for Medical Oxygen Plant in Kilifi County
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@hmail.com
Two foreign governments and Synergy Gas Limited company to set up a medical oxygen plant in Kenya and Tanzania.
Through a joint funding from Japan and Canada governments, an oxygen plant will be put up at Kokotoni area of Rabai Subcounty in Kilifi County.
The plant will produce over 2,000 tonnes of oxygen to serve hospitals within the Coast region at a cost of Sh2.8 billion.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), UNITAID, and Synergy Gases (K) Limited.
Robert Matiru, the director of programs at UNITAID, and a representative of the Japanese embassy Hiroshi Ohigara, say the plants (Kenya/Tanzania) will produce a third of the medical oxygen required in East African region.
According to them the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the facility will be undertaken by Synergy Gases Limited in an event that will be graced by Governors Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi) and his Mombasa counterpart Abdulswamad Sheriff.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates more than 500,000 patients in low and medium income countries need oxygen daily yet many facilities struggle to provide the same.
In Kenya, thousands of patients face life threatening complications, thus requiring urgent better infrastructure and supply chains.
Ohigara said that his country would continue to partner with governments and private entities in Africa to specifically advance the medical field.
Paras Pandya, the managing director of Synergy Gases Limited, said that when completed, the facility would create 3,000 jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs both in Kilifi and Mombasa counties.
Governor Mung’aro said the shortage of oxygen in the county was the main course of several deaths witnessed every day there.
On his part, Governor Nassir said that the facility would not only be beneficial to Kilifi, but also create opportunities for his County.
The initiative, according to Mung’aro, holds great potential and promise not just for the healthcare facilities in the region, but also for the entire nation.
“With an annual production capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes of oxygen, this project has the potential to significantly impact our ability to save lives and facilitate oxygen exports directly from Kilifi County.”
He said the establishment of this new plant was expected to have a substantial economic impact, with the creation of approximately 300 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect ones.
“I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to CHAI and our other esteemed partners for their unwavering support in the healthcare sector.
We remain dedicated to cultivating a conducive environment for our investors to excel in their endeavours.”
But according to Nassir the facility marks a significant milestone in the region’s healthcare and industrial sectors, as Synergy Gases was set to become a leading manufacturer of medical gas systems.
“Together, we are committed to supporting initiatives that boost local industries, create jobs, and enhance healthcare delivery across our counties,” he added.
