Building oxygen access from the ground up: an update on the East African Program on Oxygen Access

This World Oxygen Day, on 2 October, construction is underway in Kenya and Tanzania on new facilities that will boost access to medical oxygen across East Africa – a vital step toward making sure hospitals and clinics have a steady, affordable supply.

At first glance, the construction sites in coastal Kenya and outside Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, look like any other: scaffolding, cement mixers, workers in helmets. But these aren’t just ordinary building projects. Once complete, they’ll house new facilities that will produce and deliver a vital resource: medical oxygen. 

Oxygen is one of the most basic, life-saving medicines there is. It’s what keeps a newborn alive when their tiny lungs struggle to take in air. It’s what doctors rely on in emergency rooms and operating theatres. It can mean the difference between recovery and tragedy. Yet for too long, hospitals across low- and middle-income countries have struggled to keep a steady supply flowing to their patients. 

That’s why in 2024, Unitaid and partners launched the East African Program on Oxygen Access (EAPOA) –  the first large-scale effort of its kind on the continent to change how oxygen is made, moved, and delivered. The idea is simple but powerful: invest in local production of liquid oxygen, expand distribution networks, and make oxygen more reliable and affordable for the health facilities that need it most. The goal is to reach 1.7 million people by 2027 across East and Southern Africa. 

From commitment to construction 

Just a year on, the program has moved from plans on paper to shovels in the ground. Groundbreaking ceremonies have now been held in both Kenya and Tanzania, marking the formal start of construction to expand local liquid oxygen production capacity. 

• In Kenya (pictured above) Synergy Gases broke ground in October 2024, joined by the Governors of Kilifi county and Mombasa. 

• In Tanzania, TOL Gases held their groundbreaking in March 2025, with the Prime Minister lending his support. 

These milestones pave the way for new plants, storage facilities, and distribution networks that will soon start delivering oxygen to hospitals across the region. 

What’s happening behind the scenes 

Construction may be the most visible part of the program, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Over the past months, partners have been laying the groundwork to make sure oxygen reaches hospitals and patients reliably: 

• Final agreements with the oxygen manufacturers have now been signed unlocking the next stage of production scale-up. 

• Procurement of new air separation units is complete, and manufacturing is underway. 

• Baseline assessments in more than 450 facilities across Kenya and Tanzania are shaping how infrastructure and delivery will be prioritized. 

• Tenders have been issued for oxygen storage tanks, facility upgrades, and market advisory work to ensure what’s produced can get to where it’s most needed. 

• Unitaid and partners have issued a call for expressions of interest and are in discussions with financing institutions to explore expanding the program to West and Central Africa. 

Looking ahead 

The East African Program on Oxygen Access is still in its early days, but the momentum is building. With Unitaid’s $22 million investment, CHAI’s implementation expertise, the leadership of the governments of Kenya and Tanzania, MedAccess’ innovative volume guarantees, and the commitment of African manufacturers in Kenya and Tanzania, the region is taking a big step toward a future where oxygen is no longer scarce.

Map showing the hub-and-spoke model for oxygen production and delivery under EAPOA.

** Spoke countries are indicative and may change in the first phase of the program.