Air Liquide inaugurates the first Oxygen House in Senegal

Today, Air Liquide has inaugurated in Thiès, Senegal, the first Oxygen House, a central location for the Access Oxygen offering, aimed at making medical oxygen accessible to small health posts and health centers. These structures offer a first level access to healthcare for patients living in suburban and rural areas in emerging countries. Initially deployed in Thiès, Access Oxygen will ultimately be available throughout Senegal. This project is part of the Group’s Inclusive Business approach.

There are over 140 small health structures in the Thiès region which provide a population of over 1.4 million inhabitants, including the poorest, with local access to healthcare and medication. As there is no appropriate offering, these structures do not currently have access to medical oxygen, although it is essential in the treatment of respiratory and heart diseases and to fight against mother and baby mortality.

Access Oxygen is a full-service enabling small health structures to benefit from the equipment and services needed to use medical oxygen in the treatment of acute diseases. This solution notably includes a mobile oxygen source in the event that the patient is sent to hospital, and a training and maintenance programs for healthcare professionals. A specific digital application has been designed for doctors and nurses in these small health structures. It is aimed at assisting them in making decisions as to whether or not an adult, child or baby patient should be given emergency oxygen. The Access Oxygen application also enables them to create a first level patient record.

The medical and technical teams of the health structures in Senegal receive training at the Oxygen House led by an Air Liquide intrapreneur. This one, as a biomedical engineer, is the single contact person for health posts and health centers with regard to medical oxygen and also ensures ongoing monitoring and maintenance of equipment to guarantee patient safety and ensure reliability.