JOOTRH receives advanced oxygen plant to improve medical care in western Kenya

KENYA—Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has taken a significant leap toward ensuring uninterrupted medical oxygen supply with the installation of a cutting-edge cryogenic liquid oxygen plant.

Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, officially received the facility during a handover ceremony conducted by Gatewell Solutions Ltd.

Lead engineer Joseph Wananga presented the system to hospital management after completing rigorous technical trials and comprehensive staff training programs.

A game-changer in oxygen purity

The installation centres on a massive 20,000-litre cryogenic liquid oxygen tank, representing a substantial upgrade over conventional oxygen generation methods.

Traditional Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants typically deliver oxygen at 93% purity, but this new system provides medical-grade oxygen at 99.9% purity.

Engineer Wananga explained the system’s operation during the handover event. The tank stores oxygen in liquid form at extremely low temperatures.

When the hospital needs oxygen, the system passes the liquid through a specialized vaporizer that converts it back into gaseous form.

The gas then flows through the main pipeline network, reaching various wards, intensive care units, and other critical areas throughout the facility.

Multiple backup systems ensure continuous supply

Hospital administrators have prioritized reliability through redundancy.

The new plant incorporates a sophisticated 10×2 manifold backup system that operates completely automatically.

This backup mechanism holds 20 cylinders of compressed oxygen and activates instantly when liquid levels in the primary tank begin to drop.

The automated transition protects patients in critical care from any interruption in their oxygen supply.

JOOTRH now operates multiple oxygen sources simultaneously, which include the newly installed 20,000-liter tank, an existing PSA plant, the automated manifold cylinder system, and a secondary BOC tank.

This multi-layered approach provides exceptional security against potential supply disruptions.

World Bank funding strengthens healthcare infrastructure

The Ministry of Health initiated this project under the COVID-19 Health Emergency Response Project, which received financial support from the World Bank.

The initiative aims to strengthen Kenya’s healthcare infrastructure and improve the country’s capacity to respond to medical emergencies.

The hospital now assumes full responsibility for daily operations, including management and refilling of the plant.

Gatewell Solutions Ltd has provided a one-year warranty covering the installation.

Local engineers at JOOTRH have completed specialized training and earned certification to handle routine maintenance and minor technical issues, ensuring the plant operates continuously around the clock.

The new installation delivers tangible benefits for patients across the Lake Region Economic Bloc.

Healthcare providers can now offer more reliable, high-quality care while significantly reducing the risks associated with oxygen shortages that have plagued facilities in the region.