Ensuring Universal Access to Medical Oxygen
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Ensuring Universal Access to Medical Oxygen: A Key Investment for Global Health
According to the latest report from The Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security, more than 5 billion people (60% of the world’s population) do not have guaranteed access to safe and affordable medical oxygen. This is an often-overlooked issue, yet it causes hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year and affects millions of patients with critical medical needs.
Here are the key findings from the report:
- Extreme inequality persists. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to be the most affected, with only 30% medical oxygen coverage for patients with acute needs.
- Additionally, the demand for medical oxygen continues to rise. Every year, 374 million patients require medical oxygen, particularly for respiratory diseases, surgeries, and intensive care.
- Healthcare infrastructure deficiencies must also be addressed. Only 45% of patients with hypoxemia receive oxygen in general hospitals in LMICs, while in primary healthcare centers, 93% experience shortages.
- One of the major issues is the insufficient use of pulse oximetry. Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive technique that measures blood oxygen levels using a fingertip device, enabling early detection of hypoxemia and ensuring appropriate medical care. Despite being available in some hospitals, it is only used in 19% of patients in general hospitals and 54% in tertiary hospitals.
- Pulse oximetry is essential for safe and affordable medical care and should be integrated into clinical protocols and healthcare training to ensure its proper use at all levels of care.
- The study highlights the urgent need for investment in the sector. Currently, an estimated $6.8 billion annually is required to ensure universal access to medical oxygen in low-resource countries.
Medical Oxygen as a Strategic Investment
The report emphasizes that ensuring access to medical oxygen is a highly cost-effective measure, comparable to childhood vaccination ($59 per DALY averted). This investment would accelerate progress toward 8 out of the 9 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and improve preparedness for future pandemics.
The Impact of Our Projects on Healthcare Training
To address this crisis, training healthcare personnel is essential. For this reason, one of the core pillars of our actions is capacity building. Through our projects:
- We train medical staff in the use of oxygen therapy and oxygen concentrators to ensure safe and efficient application.
- We implement training in pulse oximetry, improving the detection and response to hypoxemia in resource-limited settings.
By training healthcare workers, we aim to strengthen the sustainability of the healthcare system, equipping professionals with the tools and knowledge to mitigate oxygen shortages.
Case Study 1: Kotiakró Project, Côte d’Ivoire
Through the project Ensuring the Right to Health in the Kotiakró Community, we are working to reduce shortages and improve access to essential healthcare services. This project includes training local healthcare staff in the proper use of oxygen concentrators and pulse oximetry, ensuring that critical patients receive adequate treatment.
As part of the project, a photovoltaic solar power system was installed to provide continuous electricity to oxygen concentrators 24/7, ensuring the availability of this life-saving medical treatment in the health center and maternity ward.
Case Study 2: Morocco Project – Ambulance Medicalization
In rural areas of Morocco, the lack of medical oxygen during patient transport poses a severe risk to critically ill patients. To address this issue, Azimut 360, in collaboration with the Chefchaouen Health Delegation and our local partner ADL, has developed a healthcare project to equip ambulances in the province with oxygen cylinders. These cylinders can be refilled locally at the Provincial Hospital once patients are transferred from rural health centers, preventing supply chain disruptions for remote locations.
Key Recommendations from The Lancet Global Health Report
Our engineer Mireia Gil contributed as an author to this study, from which we draw some key recommendations:
- Develop national plans to reduce the gap in access to medical oxygen.
- Mobilize international funding and increase collaboration with the private sector.
- Include pulse oximetry and medical oxygen as essential indicators in global healthcare databases.
- Promote innovative solutions in sustainable healthcare technology and infrastructure.
Access to medical oxygen is a matter of global health equity. With a well-defined strategy and political commitment, it is possible to ensure that no patient dies due to the lack of this essential resource. Now is the time to act.
Second Phase of the Solar Photovoltaic Project at MRC/UVRI & LSHTM in Entebbe, Uganda: 45% Solar Fraction Achieved!
Second Phase of the Solar Photovoltaic Project at MRC/UVRI & LSHTM in Entebbe, Uganda: 45% Solar Fraction Achieved!
In Entebbe, a city on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda, there has been recent progress in the field of solar energy. With an exceptional 278 kWp photovoltaic generator and 930 kWh of LFP BESS, the biomedical research unit MRC/UVRI & LSHTM has achieved a 45% solar electricity fraction (which translates into savings on electricity bills). This initiative not only increases the sustainable energy generation capacity of the center but also sets a benchmark towards a more sustainable and energy-autonomous future. As the project is now in its second phase, this expansion has been built upon the previous solar photovoltaic installation, which consisted of a 327 kWp self-consumption system.
The photovoltaic arrays in this new phase have been placed on the roofs of the CRF Clinic, a newly built clinic by the center, and on the staff houses. Each roof directs all photovoltaic strings to two technical rooms where the solar photovoltaic inverters have been installed. Fuses and SPDs have been placed on both the roofs and inside the technical rooms to protect all DC strings. The AC protections and the remaining electrical and communication panels complete the installation inside the technical rooms. All the electricity generated in the CRF clinic area is transferred to the main site area via a recently installed medium-voltage line, an extension of the existing 11 kV ring of the Unit. A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is connected at low voltage directly to the Unit’s main switchboard. This consists of a set of outdoor cabinets, placed on a concrete slab.
What were the objectives of this installation?
The Medical Research Council in Uganda had a dual objective in mind. On one hand, to reduce electricity bills as much as possible, becoming immune to future fluctuations in electricity and diesel prices. On the other hand, and perhaps more importantly, to become carbon neutral and move closer to full energy autonomy.
How did we achieve this?
We conducted a prefeasibility study, which included monitoring the center’s energy consumption patterns. Then, we carried out simulations to optimize the expansion (which included photovoltaics + storage), and finally, we designed and engineered the solution using the highest quality brands available in the market. We concluded that the best area available to place the photovoltaic modules was around the staff houses and the new CRF roof, which also had considerable surface area. Reaching this point required extending the medium-voltage ring that the Uganda Unit already had. A total of 520 photovoltaic modules were installed on 7 roofs. As for the BESS, we opted to install a 300 kVA Power Conversion System (PCS) from the French manufacturer Socomec, along with a total of 930 kWh, divided into 5 outdoor cabinets of 186 kWh each, from one of the leading manufacturers of lithium iron phosphate, CATL. Last but not least, the entire solution is governed by a hybrid controller, which monitors the load at all times, the energy generated by the photovoltaic arrays, and the energy supplied by the grid or generators; this controller is also responsible for commanding the BESS, which will charge or discharge the battery according to the best possible strategy.
The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
As mentioned earlier, to store the excess solar photovoltaic energy, we chose the manufacturer Socomec. This is a company with over 100 years of experience in energy conversion, monitoring, and electrical switching. Specifically, the selected solution was the “SUNSYS HES L,” an ESS specifically designed for outdoor environments and renewable energy applications. This solution uses 3 types of cabinets, which are more modular and use less space: an electrical distribution board (AC-Cab), an Energy Conversion Cabinet (C-Cab), and each of the battery cabinets (B-Cab). Being more modular allows the system to easily adapt as needs grow. Moreover, this solution supports configurations that are compatible with both grid-forming and grid-following applications. The C-Cab in this case consisted of six 50 kVA power modules, which can be hot-swapped (i.e., they can be replaced even with the system online) in case of maintenance.
In summary, the solar photovoltaic expansion carried out at the Uganda Unit of MRC/UVRI & LSHTM represents a significant step towards energy autonomy and carbon neutrality. By combining top-class photovoltaic solar module technology with the latest advances in lithium energy storage, this project ensures at least 45% of the center’s energy needs are met from a clean energy source and represents a reference model for future projects in the region.
The involvement of companies like Azimut 360, specialized in promoting sustainable energy solutions and developing projects that encourage a clean energy transition, has been key to the success and future replicability of this initiative, which paves the way towards a greener and more self-sufficient future.
Material produced with the support of ACCIÓ.