Access Oxygen: Air Liquide facilitates access to medical oxygen in rural areas of Madagascar

Access to oxygen is an essential component of any healthcare system. However, more than half of the world’s population still lacks access to a source of medical oxygen¹. The rollout of Access Oxygen in Madagascar involves 8 primary health centers in the Antsirabe region, south of Antananarivo. These small, community-based facilities, which serve a population of 215,000, are particularly isolated and far from hospital infrastructure. They often represent the first point of access to care for patients living in rural areas. This deployment will make it possible to better manage and stabilize respiratory distress in premature infants, complications related to childbirth, and conditions requiring temporary respiratory support.

Access Oxygen provides a comprehensive, cost-effective, and self-sufficient oxygen therapy solution. It includes the supply of equipment, as well as a training program for healthcare staff to learn how to use and maintain it. These training sessions were led by Arnaud Delanghe, an Air Liquide expert who has been committed for several years to improving access to oxygen in the country. 

Discover his experience in video:

Contributing to access to more sustainable oxygen

For the first time, the project incorporates solar panels and batteries to ensure uninterrupted care even in the absence of a stable power grid. This is a forward-looking solution to ensure sustainable access to medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries. An Air Liquide Healthcare subsidiary also contributed to the effort by donating concentrators from its Home Healthcare division, thus giving them new use.

Learn more about Access Oxygen