LocationsFrom rural clinics to national hospitals, Global Fund-supported oxygen plants provide a lifeline and strengthen health resilience.
Every Breath Counts
October 29, 2025
In Angola, medical gas piping systems provided with the support of the Global Fund and partners at Kilamba Kiaxi Municipal Hospital are supplying life-saving oxygen to newborns and patients.
UNDP Angola
Every breath matters. For a newborn struggling for air, an expectant mother requiring surgery, or a patient battling respiratory illness, access to medical oxygen can mean the difference between life and death. Yet in many hospitals, life-saving oxygen remains in short supply.
“To be honest, I don’t know if we would be having our son today. He might have passed on. By the time we reached the hospital, he was struggling to breathe. His eyes were rolling. He wasn’t responding,” recounted Sarah at Al Sabbah Children Hospital in Juba in South Sudan.
Filling the Oxygen Supply Gap
An estimated 60 percent of the world’s population lacks access to safe and affordable medical oxygen. In low- and middle-income countries, nine out of ten hospitals lacked the equipment to provide oxygen therapy, resulting in 800,000 preventable deaths per year even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, none of The Gambia’s public hospitals had access to medical oxygen, and the country was relying on imports from Senegal and a local supplier, Banjul Oxygen,” recalled Aissata De, Deputy Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa, who was then UNDP Resident Representative in The Gambia.
“We had to mobilize partners to bridge this critical gap to save lives,” she added.
A similar situation occurred in South Sudan, which relied on neighbouring Uganda for additional supplies. Deliveries were occasionally delayed and costly due to transportation expenses.
Beyond the pandemic, medical oxygen remains vital for everyday healthcare, from powering intensive care units and surgical theatres to saving mothers and children.
“There was one bed left with an oxygen tank, and my son who was diagnosed with severe pneumonia was immediately put on oxygen. Then, his breathing stabilized, his oxygen levels went up,” added Sarah.
Building Sustainable Oxygen Infrastructure
Sarah’s story is a stark reminder of the stakes and calls for sustained investment and partnerships to bridge the oxygen supply gap.
Thanks to support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and partners including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), and national governments, countries in Africa, Asia and beyond are closing the oxygen supply gap. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen the ability of national health systems to reliably deliver life-saving care.
A UNDP staff operating the oxygen plant at Riverside Warehouse, Gumbo in South Sudan. Installation of oxygen plants has stimulated medical oxygen production and reduced dependence on neighboring countries for the life-saving commodity.
UNDP South Sudan
In South Sudan, two high-capacity oxygen plants were installed at the Wau Regional Warehouse and Riverside Warehouse in Gumbo, jointly operated by the Ministry of Health and UNDP. Together, they produce around 1,000 litres of oxygen daily, supplying hospitals like Al Sabbah Children’s Hospital in Juba. UNDP also supported the installation of an oxygen piping system at Juba Teaching Hospital, providing a safe and consistent supply at the country’s main referral facility.
Dr. Angelo Omawo, Medical Director at Al Sabbah Children’s Hospital, emphasized the importance of oxygen supply.
“We receive referrals from all 10 states. Our Outpatient Department (OPD) sees 300–500 patients daily. Of these, around 50 are admitted, and at least ten require oxygen, mostly for severe malaria, pneumonia, congenital heart disease, and respiratory conditions.”
She added: “Before the Global Fund partnership installed the oxygen plants, we had to buy oxygen. It was expensive, and the hospital couldn’t afford it.”
Inside a children's ward at Al Sabbah Children Hospital in South Sudan. Dr. Angelo Amawa, the Medical Director, and her team of physicians create a nurturing and healing environment for every child.
UNDP South Sudan
In Angola, with funding from the Global Fund, UNDP partnered with the Ministry of Health to install medical gas piping systems that supply oxygen directly to patients at their bedsides. Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants in eleven major hospitals across the country enable transitioning to sustainable on-site production, and securing a reliable supply, reducing reliance on external providers.
In Angola, medical gas piping systems provided with the support of the Global Fund and partners at Kilamba Kiaxi Municipal Hospital supply life-saving oxygen to newborns and patients.
UNDP Angola
In The Gambia, the installation of an oxygen generator at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital- Bakau (Ndemban) has transformed healthcare delivery in the country. The facility now produces its own oxygen, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply for patients, thanks to the partnership between UNDP, the World Bank and WHO. The Global Fund contributed to nationwide coverage. This advancement has strengthened the health system’s capacity, reduced dependence on imports, and brought lifesaving care closer to those who need it most.
“This is one of the milestone achievements of the health sector in The Gambia since independence. Having an oxygen plant in-country is greatly alleviating the suffering of patients and reducing mortality,” noted The Gambia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh.
In The Gambia, oxygen generators supplied to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital- Bakau (Ndemban) have transformed healthcare delivery in the country.
UNDP The Gambia
Global Impact, Local Change
To date, UNDP has deployed over 116 PSA oxygen plants across Africa and Asia, strengthening access to quality-assured medical oxygen in 67 hospitals, including in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Sudan.
These facilities are significantly boosting the availability of medical oxygen for emergencies and critical care, enhancing national preparedness for respiratory diseases and future pandemics.
Oxygen cylinders at Riverside Warehouse, Gumbo. Several hospitals around Juba, the capital city of South Sudan get medical oxygen supply from here.
UNDP South Sudan
Looking Ahead
As the largest funder of medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries, the Global Fund’s investments go beyond machines and pipelines. It is about saving lives, building resilience, and ensuring no patient is left gasping for air. With continued investment, we can strengthen health systems and build a future where oxygen is available to all who need it.
Related
content
content
