First Lady Margaret Kenyatta launches Oxygen Plant in Siaya

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta today launched a medical oxygen manufacturing plant at Siaya County Referral Hospital.

The oxygen plant dubbed "Hewa Tele"is a joint venture by the General Electric (GE) Foundation, the Centre for Population Health and Development, Siaya County and the National Government. It is the first of its kind in the County.

The Plant, the First Lady said, is another big stride towards the realization of affordable and accessible health care to Kenyans. She added that it complimented the “Beyond Zero” initiative as well as Government efforts to provide quality healthcare to all Kenyans.

She said it is through strategic partnerships that delivery of critical healthcare solutions to all Kenyans including vulnerable members of ‘our society can be fast-tracked’.

The First Lady described Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) initiatives as a new approach to mobilize resources to meet the country’s health needs in a sustainable manner.

“This plant, which offers a lifeline to Siaya residents and beyond, demonstrates what we can achieve with the right partnerships between the government and the private sector,” she said.

The First Lady said Kenyans’ wide array of genuine demands from their county governments are putting serious strains on limited resources, hence the need for strategic partnerships.

She said an increase in the use of Oxygen can reduce under-five mortality by 35% and provide additional life-saving benefits in other healthcare contexts including surgery and obstetrics. 

Adding, “This Hewa Tele facility provides adequate supplies of Oxygen, a critical and vital component in health care delivery that is often overlooked as a necessity in hospitals.”   

The First Lady said the Oxygen manufacturing facility which can produce adequate Oxygen to cater for over 72,000 critically ill patients in Siaya and neighboring counties per year, is also a relief to the many boda boda accident victims.

The Plant will also provide affordable Oxygen to public and private facilities in the region that would otherwise refer patients to other hospitals due to lack of Oxygen, she added.

The First Lady said the public private partnership project is a transformative initiative ‘established where the need is most urgent’ and is worthy to be replicated in other counties.

“It is therefore my sincere hope that this partnership between General Electric Foundation, CPHD and Siaya County Government will be replicated in other counties across the country,’ she said.

The function was attended by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, his Kisumu counterpart Jack Ranguma and GE Foundation President Jay Ireland among other leaders.