Limited or no on-site oxygen generation capacity forces reliance on intermittent external supply chains.
Last mile oxygen
Affordable, decentralized oxygen access for frontline health facilities in Kenya
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
Affordable, decentralized oxygen for every frontline facility
CPHD’s Last mile oxygen access Initiative is rethinking how health systems deliver medical oxygen. Rather than relying solely on cylinder refills and costly infrastructure, the program introduces a fit-for-purpose oxygen bundle backed by a sustainable financing model, clinical training, and biomedical support.
By equipping primary-level hospitals (Level 2 and 3) with the tools and skills needed to manage oxygen safely, and piloting higher-capacity solutions for referral-level facilities, CPHD aims to reduce preventable deaths from hypoxia, especially among children and mothers in resource-limited settings.
THE CHALLANGE
Oxygen gaps at Kenya's frontline facilities
Access to medical oxygen remains one of the most persistent gaps in Kenya’s decentralized health system especially at primary-care level, where most patients first seek help.
No on-site generation
High cylinder costs
Operational costs of oxygen cylinders create financial strain on facilities and county health systems.
Undertrained staff
Inadequate training in oxygen therapy and device use compromises patient safety and care quality.
Infrastructure gaps
Facilities lack safe systems for oxygen storage, delivery, and monitoring at the point of care.
OUR APPROACH
Three pillars of oxygen access
A comprehensive model that moves beyond equipment procurement to embed infrastructure, skills, and financing at every level of the health system.
Oxygen as a Service (OaaS)
A customized oxygen bundle based on patient volume and clinical need, trialled in 90 facilities across 11 counties. Includes bundled procurement, alternative financing, and demand-linked infrastructure to replace unreliable supply chains.
Clinical & Biomedical Training
1,198 healthcare workers trained in oxygen therapy, patient monitoring, and emergency management. Biomedical teams trained in preventive maintenance, repair, and safe device handling with manifold systems installed for multi-bed distribution.
Liquid Oxygen (LOX) Pilot
For high-volume hospitals, CPHD piloted liquid oxygen systems with cryogenic storage tanks and piped bedside delivery demonstrating reliable, continuous high-flow oxygen and reduced cylinder dependency in inpatient and maternity wards.
KEY RESULTS
Fit-for-purpose equipment for every facility
Each oxygen bundle is customized to facility patient volume and clinical need, ensuring appropriate capacity without unnecessary overhead.
- Oxygen concentrators
- Cylinder trolleys
- Oxygen flow splitters (5-way)
- Consumables & accessories
- Backup oxygen cylinders
- Pulse oximeters
- Voltage stabilizers
- Manifold systems
INNOVATION
Liquid oxygen for high-demand hospitals
To serve referral-level facilities with higher patient volumes, CPHD piloted LOX systems, demonstrating feasibility and contributing to national scale-up efforts.
- Reliable, continuous high-flow oxygen delivery at the bedside
- Reduced cylinder dependency in inpatient and maternity wards
- Proven feasibility with clear infrastructure and safety requirements for the public sector
90+
health facilities equipped across 14 counties
10,800+
patients benefited from improved oxygen access
1,198
healthcare workers trained in oxygen therapy
14
counties reached with oxygen systems