Anambra Government Partners UNICEF to Train 222 Health Workers on Oxygen Usage

By Luchee Igwe

The Anambra State Government in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), commenced training for no fewer than 222 health workers on use of oxygen.

Dr Afam Obidike, the state’s Commissioner for Health, while addressing participants at the training on the use of oxygen, oxygen devices and oxygen delivery, on Friday in Awka, said more lives would be saved.

Obidike said that oxygen was key to giving life to a patient and could be toxic and wasteful to the body if not properly used.

“Based on the gap analysis and oxygen assessment conducted by the ministry, we realised it is
important to build the capacity of our health personnel on the use of oxygen.

“The present administration is committed to the training and re-training of health workers to reduce mortality and improve on our health indices.

“This training will ensure appropriate use of oxygen to avoid toxicity and waste as well as reduce deaths as a result of not using oxygen properly and as at when due to save lives in hospitals.

“The 222 participants were selected from primary healthcare centres, general hospitals, and some of the newly recruited health personnel in the state,” he said.

Obidike said that oxygen plants at Onitsha General Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, would supply oxygen to all the health facilities in the state.

“The objective is to ensure that victims are resuscitated during emergencies such as trauma as a result of accident, during labour or severe asthma and other health situations,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Theo Chukwulobelu, Head of Medical Support Services, said that the training was to expose the participants oxygen and oxygen usage, as well as its devices.

He said that the participants would equally train their colleagues in the various healthcare centres for improved service delivery in the state.