Unitaid expands lifesaving oxygen network into Tanzania

TANZANIA – Tanzania has officially joined a major East African medical oxygen initiative, thanks to a US $22 million project led by Unitaid.

The East African Program of Oxygen Access (EAPOA) aims to provide sustainable access to medical oxygen in sub-Saharan Africa, starting with the construction of production plants that serve multiple countries.

Launched in Kenya in October 2024, the initiative entered its second phase in the first week of April with a groundbreaking ceremony in Dar es Salaam, attended by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.

“Strengthening local oxygen production is a game changer,” the Prime Minister said. “It reduces our dependency on external sources and boosts our ability to meet growing demand. This is a major step toward stronger healthcare systems not only in Tanzania but across our region.”

Despite being essential for treating pneumonia, malaria, COVID-19, tuberculosis, and complications in pregnancy and surgery, medical oxygen remains scarce in many parts of Africa—some areas have less than 10% of what they need.

To tackle this, EAPOA uses a hub-and-spoke model. Large production hubs create liquid medical oxygen and distribute it to smaller facilities in harder-to-reach places.

The first production centers in Mombasa and Nairobi laid the groundwork for a regional supply system. In this next phase, Tanzania will be home to new air separation units (ASUs) run by TOL Gases Plc, a mid-size oxygen supplier.

The goal is to expand oxygen availability across Tanzania and neighboring countries such as Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Mozambique.

“At TOL Gases, we believe medical oxygen is a right, not a luxury,” said Managing Director Daniel Warungu. “We’re proud to lead this effort to expand access across the region.”

With increased collaboration between oxygen providers in Kenya and Tanzania, the project is expected to triple regional output, adding more than 60 tonnes of oxygen daily.

This could lead to price drops of up to 27%, allowing more patients to receive timely care at a lower cost.

The impact could be enormous. It’s estimated that nearly 1 million children in Kenya and Tanzania suffer serious illnesses each year requiring oxygen. Expanding supply will reduce deaths and strengthen healthcare systems overall.

Unitaid Executive Director Dr. Philippe Duneton emphasized the long-term goal: “We’re not just treating emergencies—we’re building a future where oxygen is a permanent, reliable part of health systems.”

The project uses a hybrid financing model, combining support from Canada and Japan, and includes backing from MedAccess, CHAI (Clinton Health Access Initiative), PATH, and Tanzania’s Ministry of Health.

“Resilient health systems start with reliable supplies,” said CHAI Tanzania Country Director Esther Mtumbuka. “By focusing on local solutions and innovative financing, we’re building something sustainable and impactful.”