The medical oxygen production plant inaugurated at the Evangelical Medical Institute of Kimpese in the province of Kongo Central marks a major advance in the field of health in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This initiative, supported by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), aims to improve access to medical oxygen in healthcare facilities.
The establishment of this factory is part of the efforts made by the Congolese government to realize the Universal Health Coverage project, a vision dear to President Félix Tshisekedi. Indeed, according to a survey conducted in 2018 by the Kinshasa School of Public Health, only 6% of healthcare establishments had medical oxygen. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the urgency of ensuring oxygen availability, bringing this figure to 33%.
This medical oxygen production plant is a new step in the country’s efforts to meet the growing needs for oxygen in hospitals and health centers. It adds to other factories acquired last year in the capital and in certain provinces, thus increasing national production capacity.
Thanks to this plant, the Evangelical Medical Institute of Kimpese will be able to meet the oxygen needs autonomously, thus improving the quality of care and health services in the Kongo Central province, particularly in the Cataracts district.
This progress is the result of a constructive partnership between IME Kimpese and CHAI-DRC. It represents an important step towards ensuring access to medical oxygen across the country, helping to save lives and improve health outcomes.
Beyond the immediate impact of this factory on patient health, it also demonstrates the Congolese government’s commitment to strengthening health infrastructure and meeting the needs of the population. It represents a concrete example of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s desire to progress towards better health coverage for all.
In conclusion, the inauguration of this medical oxygen production plant at IME Kimpese marks a significant step forward in improving access to medical oxygen in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is an important step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and tangible proof of the Congolese government’s commitment to improving health infrastructure. This initiative will help save lives and improve health outcomes in Kongo Central province.