Scaling up medical oxygen in the Pacific: Life-saving oxygen plant now operational in Kiritimati

As of July, the oxygen plant in Kiritimati can fill up to 24 oxygen cylinders with medical oxygen in 24 hours. This means, that the facility can now support four patients with severe COVID-19 simultaneously, providing much-needed relief to the local healthcare system.

Until July, the Kiritimati community living on the island had limited access to medical oxygen, particularly in the case of a surge in need. For approximately 6500 people, the hospital in Kiritimati relied on shipments by sea of cylinders from the closest medical plant at the national referral hospital in South Tarawa, more than 3320 km.

Over the past two years, WHO, the European Union and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services of Kiribati, worked closely together to deliver the plant to Kiritimati. The investment of almost US$500,000 covered the manufacturing, transportation of the plant, construction materials, commissioning and testing of the plant, training for health workers, and the provision of spare parts and oxygen cylinders and related accessories.

Hon Minister for Health, Dr Tinte Itinteang highlighted the importance of securing reliable oxygen supply for the London Kiritimati hospital and nearby health facilities: “Due to the remoteness of this hospital, it is important that the facility is able to deliver key services to the local community. Having an oxygen plant on site will ensure the facility can deal with any fluctuations of demand for life-saving oxygen and is an important part of our strengthening of health facilities in Kiribati.”