Yusuf Dansoho Oxygen Piping System to Transform Emergency, Maternal, Newborn Care in Kaduna
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
The commissioning of a Medical Oxygen Piping System at Yusuf Dansoho Memorial Hospital is expected to significantly transform emergency response, maternal and newborn care, and overall patient safety in Kaduna State, health officials and partners have said.
The project, supported by UNICEF and formally handed over to the Kaduna State Government, delivers uninterrupted, safe and reliable medical oxygen directly to critical points of care within the hospital, eliminating delays, reducing safety risks and improving clinical outcomes.
Health experts at the event explained that the impact of the system goes far beyond infrastructure.
By ensuring constant access to oxygen, the hospital is now better equipped to manage birth complications, premature and distressed newborns, surgical emergencies and critically ill patients, conditions where minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Health, Umma K. Ahmed described the project as a decisive intervention that strengthens the health system and directly improves survival outcomes for mothers and newborns.
She noted that oxygen is an essential medicine and that reliable access is one of the most critical determinants of patient survival.
The new piping system, according her, will build on earlier UNICEF-supported investments at the facility, including a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a medical oxygen plant established in 2024.
“Together, these interventions create a complete oxygen ecosystem that supports safer deliveries, improved neonatal care and faster emergency response”, she added.
Representing the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, Dr. Hadiza Aliyu said the project directly responds to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when oxygen shortages led to avoidable deaths.
She stressed that the system will improve maternal and newborn outcomes, strengthen surgical and emergency services, and enhance patient safety.
From a national perspective, Mr Yusuf Moses, North-West Zonal Coordinator, National Oxygen Desk, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare described the project as aligned with Nigeria’s National Strategy for the Scale-Up of Medical Oxygen (2023–2027).
He highlighted that piped oxygen systems reduce reliance on high-pressure cylinders, lower accident risks, improve efficiency and meet international safety standards.
Beyond immediate clinical benefits, the project is also expected to have long-term impact.
The Kaduna State Government announced plans under its 2026 project framework to establish two additional oxygen plants, procure oxygen accessories and train biomedical engineers, clinicians and nurses, steps aimed at sustaining gains and expanding access across the state.
Health workers at Yusuf Dansoho Memorial Hospital welcomed the intervention, noting that frontline staff can now focus on patient care without delays caused by oxygen shortages or cylinder logistics.
With this investment, Kaduna State moves closer to a future where no mother, newborn or critically ill patient is denied life-saving care due to lack of oxygen, setting a strong example for other states seeking to strengthen health systems and reduce preventable deaths.
