USAID/Jhpiego hands over repaired Oxygen Plant to JOOTRH in Kisumu

KENYA—The USAID-funded Reaching Impact, Saturation, and Epidemic Control (RISE) project, implemented by Jhpiego, has successfully handed over the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant to the Kisumu County Government.

This transfer took place at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) after extensive repairs and servicing.

This achievement represents a significant milestone in strengthening healthcare systems in Kisumu and beyond, ensuring improved access to medical oxygen for thousands of patients.

The PSA plant, which generates oxygen for JOOTRH and 21 other health facilities within Kisumu County, has been pivotal in addressing critical care needs.

However, rising demand has led to supply shortages across the region.

To tackle this challenge, JOOTRH has proposed a cost-sharing arrangement among benefiting health facilities to sustain the plant’s operations.

 Starting May 1, 2025, these facilities will contribute to the annual maintenance costs, estimated at USD 48,000–67,000 (KES 7–10 million), ensuring uninterrupted oxygen supply. 

Medical oxygen is vital for emergency and critical care services such as intensive care units (ICU), high dependency units (HDU), surgery, and accident wards.

To enhance efficiency and reduce long-term costs, JOOTRH is prioritizing capacity-building initiatives for its biomedical engineers.

 Equipping them with routine maintenance and repairs skills will ensure prompt responses to technical issues and optimize plant functionality.

Speaking during the handing over, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, CEO of JOOTRH, emphasized the urgent need for an additional oxygen plant to meet the region’s growing healthcare demands.

He highlighted the increasing disease burden requiring oxygen therapy and expressed gratitude to USAID RISE and Jhpiego for their continuous support.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening the Oxygen Management Information System to track consumption patterns and improve operational efficiency.

The PSA plant currently supports an average of 90 patients daily at JOOTRH, which is expected to rise due to increased referrals.