Lack of Oxygen means death
A report by the Federal Ministry of Health reveals that over 625,000 deaths are caused by diseases associated with hypoxaemia, also known as low blood oxygen saturation. Of these deaths, over 170,000 are of children under 5 who are casualties of pneumonia induced hypoxaemia.
These numbers are made worse by the limited oxygen availability in hospitals across Nigeria and contribute to Nigeria’s devastatingly high child mortality of 100 deaths per 1,000 live births -- the 6th highest in the world.
Oxygen delivery systems in Nigerian health facilities are severely hindered by the lack of access to equipment such as pulse oximeters, non-invasive hypoxaemia screening devices recommended by the WHO. When available, existing oxygen equipment is often of poor or unverified quality.
