Geneva, 2 July 2025 – Kenya and Tanzania are set to transform access to lifesaving medical oxygen with the construction of three new state-of-the-art liquid oxygen production facilities, backed by Unitaid and Japanese engineering leader Nikkiso.

The new plants, part of the East African Program on Oxygen Access (EAPOA), aim to triple medical oxygen production in the region and slash prices by nearly 27%. This ambitious effort will directly strengthen healthcare systems across East and Southern Africa, ensuring hospitals can treat thousands more patients each month.

“Expanding local oxygen production is crucial to ensuring no patient is left without this essential medicine,” said Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa during a groundbreaking event in Dar es Salaam. “This investment builds resilience and makes our supply more self-sufficient, reducing dependency on imports.”

The facilities—located in Mombasa and Nairobi in Kenya, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania—will be locally owned and operated, creating sustainable access to oxygen for communities in need. They are designed to serve not only Kenya and Tanzania but also neighboring countries like Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.

Closing Critical Gaps in Oxygen Access
Medical oxygen is vital for treating pneumonia, COVID-19, severe malaria, and maternal and newborn complications, among many other conditions. Yet many African countries currently meet less than 10% of their oxygen needs.

“By empowering regional manufacturers to operate these advanced facilities, we’re creating a long-term solution that saves lives and strengthens local economies,” said Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid.

A Partnership for Sustainable Health
The initiative draws on Nikkiso’s decades-long experience in delivering high-quality medical technologies worldwide. “We are proud to bring our expertise to this project and play a role in tackling East Africa’s oxygen gap,” said Koichi Kato, President and CEO of Nikkiso.

The project follows a rigorous tendering process led by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), which selected Nikkiso for its proven ability to deliver reliable, scalable solutions.

About the Partners
Unitaid works to make cutting-edge health innovations accessible in low- and middle-income countries, benefiting over 300 million people each year. Nikkiso, established in 1953, has pioneered technologies across medical, industrial, and aerospace sectors.

For media inquiries:
Kyle Wilkinson
Communications Officer
+41 79 445 17 45
wilkinsonk@unitaid.who.int