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World Oxygen Day 2024: Closing the Gaps in Oxygen Access and Equipment Maintenance for Global Health
On this year’s World Oxygen Day, the call to action is louder than ever. Medical oxygen is not just a critical treatment—it is a lifeline across multiple health targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Whether for newborn survival, safe surgery, or managing chronic respiratory diseases, oxygen is the common denominator for saving millions of lives, and yet, access remains alarmingly insufficient in many low- and middle-income countries, where health systems face severe equipment shortages and a dire lack of technical personnel. A Grim Snapshot: The
Oxygen Colab Grants £61,495 to Oxygen Alliance to Support the Development of BME Konza App
The Oxygen Colab has awarded a £61,495 grant to the Oxygen Alliance to support the development of the BME Konza App, an innovative mobile platform designed to empower biomedical engineers and technicians in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This vital funding will accelerate the app’s development, enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals to maintain and repair critical medical equipment, ultimately improving patient care in resource-limited settings.
📰 Oxygen Alliance Newsletter: Celebrating Innovation, New Initiatives, and Community Involvement
BME Konza Mobile App We’re excited to share that our BME Konza mobile app has reached a significant milestone, with four versions released internally for testing. This app aims to support biomedical engineers by providing a platform to ask questions, share solutions, and access essential resources such as equipment manuals and maintenance videos. Feedback from internal users, including engineers from OpenO2 and the Global Health Innovation Initiative (GHII), has been invaluable. We are now preparing to test the app externally with engineers from Zambia, Uganda, Kenya,
Celebrating Women in Biomedical Engineering: WIBEK 2024 Highlights
On June 24th, the Oxygen Alliance proudly participated in the Women in Biomedical Engineering Day Conference (WIBEK) 2024, held in conjunction with International Women in Engineering Day. This June 23rd global celebration, themed “Enhanced by Engineering,” was a day to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of female engineers in improving communities and advancing technological innovation. In collaboration with key partners, the event was organized by the Association of Medical Engineering of Kenya (AMEK) with this year’s conference providing a platform for women to share their professional journeys
Oxygen Alliance & Academic Partners renew and enhance efforts to collaborate through Academic interventions
On February 1st, 2024, The Oxygen Alliance convened a meeting, bringing together over 20 delegates from esteemed institutions including Aketen Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), All Nations University, Arusha Technical College, ECUREI, Evelyn Hone College, Kenyatta University, Koforidua Technical University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Makerere University, Malawi University of Business & Applied Sciences, Malawi University of Science & Technology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences, Northern Technical College, and University of Ghana,
Improving Healthcare Infrastructure in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Oxygen Alliance Stakeholders Engagement
On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, the Ministry of Health in Malawi organized a stakeholders meeting to discuss ways to improve healthcare infrastructure in the country. The meeting was convened by the Director of Health Technical Support Services (HTSS) Malawi and was attended by representatives from USAID, Project Management Office (PMO) at HTSS, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Project Last Mile, Right to Care, and FHI 360.
Oxygen Alliance Signs Letter of Intent with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) & Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI)
In a continued commitment to bolstering sustainable healthcare and academic excellence, the Oxygen Alliance recently signed letters of intent with both the Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI) in Uganda and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). These strategic collaborations aim to infuse the Alliance’s resources, expertise, and tools into the academic frameworks of ECUREI and KNUST. The unified vision is to fortify curricula, ensuring students are primed to lead in a future where resilient and sustainable healthcare systems are paramount.
1st African Region Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Technology Conference and Exhibition – Africa Chapter
Held at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel and organized by the Association of Medical Engineering of Kenya (AMEK) and the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE), this conference centered on post-COVID-19 healthcare technology in Africa. The Oxygen Alliance was proud to sponsor 2 biomedical engineers from Malawi to attend the event where discussions highlighted the risks of oxygen production, the significance of medical equipment documentation, concerns about oxygen equipment’s proximity to incinerators, the necessity for advanced oxygen monitoring, and strategies to address oxygen shortages in remote areas. The event also