A new effort is being launched to improve the production and supply of medical oxygen in East Africa. This will involve supporting local manufacturers through various financial instruments.

Medical oxygen is crucial for treating a range of health conditions, including pneumonia and hypoxemia. However, it is often not readily available in low-resource settings. It is estimated that approximately 25 million deaths occur each year due to a lack of access to oxygen.

This crisis was further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted severe shortages across the continent. While there are companies in Africa that produce and deliver medical oxygen, the pandemic has emphasized the urgent need to increase production and distribution capabilities in order to save lives.