New oxygen systems installed in Teso to combat child mortality
The installations were carried out by the FREO2 Foundation, a global non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing child deaths from respiratory conditions in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Anita Nuwensiima, a biomedical engineer with the FREO2 Foundation, shows Dr Kenneth Okilan the oxygen system installed at Kapelebyong HCIV. (Credit: Delux Emmy Alomu)
By Deluxe Emmy Alomu
Journalists @New Vision
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Efforts to reduce child mortality caused by respiratory illnesses in the Teso sub-region have received a boost with the installation of low-pressure medical oxygen systems in four health facilities.
The FREO2 oxygen systems, introduced under the “Oxygen as a Service” initiative, have been installed in the paediatric wards of Kapelebyong Health Centre IV (Kapelebyong district), Ngora Freda Carr Hospital (Ngora district), Bukedea Health Centre IV (Bukedea district), and Serere Health Centre IV (Serere district).
The installations were carried out by the FREO2 Foundation, a global non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing child deaths from respiratory conditions in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Anita Nuwensiima, a biomedical engineer with FREO2, said the selected facilities were identified based on their remote locations and high need. The goal is to ensure neonates and children aged 0 to 12 have access to free, reliable oxygen supply.
According to Nuwensiima, the selection followed a baseline assessment of 120 general hospitals and health centre IVs across Uganda. From these, 35 sites were chosen to ensure equitable access to oxygen.
Globally, respiratory failure caused by pneumonia, birth asphyxia, and preterm complications accounts for over 1.6 million deaths among children under five annually. In low-resource settings, power outages often disrupt oxygen supply, sometimes with fatal outcomes.
Dr Kenneth Okilan, officer-in-charge of Kapelebyong Health Centre IV, said the newly installed system has significantly improved access and efficiency, with oxygen now piped directly to patient beds using a hybrid solar-electricity power source.
He noted that the facility previously relied on a single oxygen cylinder, which could serve only one patient at a time. The new system can support up to three patients simultaneously, with uninterrupted supply.
The development has been warmly welcomed by both patients and their caretakers.