(Tappita, Nimba County, Liberia – February 27, 2025)—a major step in strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system by improving access to medical oxygen for critical care and emergency cases, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has commissioned a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant at the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Referral Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County. The PSA Plant will feed nearby health facilities and the region with oxygen. The commissioning ceremony was graced by top government officials, international partners, health experts, and local authorities. Delivering a remark, Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer-RL/Deputy Minister for Health Services Dr. Catherine T. Cooper, pinpointed the significance of the oxygen plant, noting that past public health crises such as the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed major weaknesses in the country’s oxygen supply system.
“In 2020 and 2021, an assessment revealed that Liberia had only three operational oxygen plants producing 30 to 40 cylinders daily, which was grossly insufficient to meet demand,” Dr. Cooper stated. “With this new plant, we are moving toward a more resilient healthcare system where oxygen supply will be reliable and accessible to patients in need.”
Dr. Cooper reiterated the government’s commitment to healthcare improvements. “The commissioning of this plant is part of a broader strategy to enhance medical infrastructure and ensure quality healthcare services for all Liberians,” she said.
She also reassured stakeholders that the government is working on policies to sustain these facilities beyond donor support. “We are developing strategies to integrate oxygen supply into our national health budget to avoid dependence on external funding,” Dr. Cooper added. The oxygen plant, built through funding from the Global Fund, is one of four newly completed facilities, with others located in Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh, and Lofa counties. Each plant has the capacity to produce 100 cylinders of medical oxygen daily, a significant improvement for the country’s health sector.
Representing the Global Fund, Manasse Kassi, Fund Portfolio Manager for Western and Central Africa, commended the Liberian government for its commitment to healthcare improvements. “Since 2004, the Global Fund has invested nearly half a billion dollars in Liberia’s health sector, not only in fighting HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria but also in strengthening the healthcare system,” he remarked. Kassi emphasized the importance of sustainability, noting that the Global Fund has included a 10-year extended warranty for the oxygen plant. However, he stressed that the true success of the project lies in proper maintenance and long-term commitment from the government and local health authorities. Dr. Victor Z. Kaizer, CEO of Jackson F. Doe Hospital, welcomed the new oxygen plant, describing it as a “lifeline for patients.”
He pointed out challenges the hospital previously faced in acquiring oxygen, including expensive transportation costs from Monrovia and Bong County. “This facility will not only benefit our hospital but also surrounding health centers, significantly reducing costs and improving patient care,” Dr. Kaizer noted. Dr. Ponnie Robertlee Dolo, County Health Officer of Nimba County, acknowledged the historical difficulties hospitals faced in securing oxygen. “Until now, facilities had to travel long distances to purchase oxygen at high costs, which affected service delivery. This plant will be a game-changer for our health system,” Dr. Dolo stated.
Dr. Dolo also emphasized the importance of integrating oxygen production data into Liberia’s routine health information systems to ensure efficient distribution and monitoring. Dr. Ibrahim Kamara, Deputy Country Director for Programs at Plan International Liberia, expressed his organization’s excitement about the project. “This is a strategic investment that will improve healthcare service delivery across Liberia. We encourage the government and hospital administration to ensure proper maintenance and utilization of this facility,” he said. The oxygen plant will be managed in collaboration with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team, ensuring timely distribution to hospitals and clinics in the region. Local healthcare workers and community members expressed their gratitude for the facility. Nurse Linda Weah, a senior nurse at Jackson F. Doe Hospital, shared how difficult it had been to care for critically ill patients without a steady oxygen supply. “This is a huge relief for us. Many lives will be saved because of this investment,” she said.
As the ceremony concluded, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Catherine T. Cooper alongside partners toured the newly constructed plant and officially turned to the hospital administration. The ceremony ended with a guided tour of the facility, during which guests witnessed firsthand the plant’s operational capabilities. Technical experts demonstrated how the PSA system generates high-purity medical oxygen by filtering and compressing air. The commissioning of the PSA Oxygen Plant in Tappita, Nimba County, stands as a monumental achievement in Liberia’s healthcare sector, reinforcing the government’s commitment to universal health coverage and emergency preparedness.