— Nigeria strategic to global health interventions, says DUFUHS VC
— Workshop to open doors for partnerships, collaborations, interventions — Uneke
By Enyinna Omoke, Abakaliki
Health workers at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), Ebonyi State, have received specialised training on medical oxygen economy, infrastructure and supply systems under the EQUI-RESP Africa Project.
The training workshop, held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the Main Conference Hall of DUFUTH, brought together medical personnel, healthcare professionals and resource persons from within and outside Nigeria.
The EQUI-RESP Africa Project is a multi-country research initiative designed to develop context-specific interventions to address respiratory diseases in low- and middle-income countries. It is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), United Kingdom, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.
Speaking on “Understanding Medical Oxygen Economy and Ecosystem,” the Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) and Ebonyi Project Lead for EQUI-RESP Africa, Prof. Jesse Uneke, said the project was being implemented in about five African countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa.
Uneke described Nigeria as a strategic country in global health research and interventions, citing its population, size and significance to disease-control efforts.
“If you are talking about global health and you involve other African countries without bringing Nigeria into it, you have not started. Nigeria is very strategic in any kind of global health intervention,” he said.
He added that research outcomes from Nigeria could contribute significantly to global understanding of disease transmission and the development of appropriate interventions.
“Whatever comes out of this country in terms of interventions, research outputs and everything that has to do with the dynamics of disease transmission, especially diseases that have assumed global dimensions, cannot afford to relegate Nigeria to the background,” Uneke said.
According to him, Nigeria has two project leads under the initiative, one based at the University of Lagos and the other at DUFUHS in Ebonyi State.
He described the establishment of an EQUI-RESP Africa project centre in Ebonyi as a major development capable of strengthening research, capacity building and health interventions in the state.
Uneke commended the management of DUFUTH for its partnership in the implementation of the project, noting that the research was being undertaken at two teaching hospitals — the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), and DUFUTH.
He recalled that a stakeholders’ engagement had recently been organised, during which the Ebonyi State Government expressed its commitment to supporting the translation of research findings into policy and clinical practice.
The Vice Chancellor said the latest workshop constituted the second phase of the project's medical oxygen economy component and was designed to equip healthcare workers with specialised knowledge required for effective management of oxygen infrastructure and services.
“The purpose of this workshop is to give specialised training to our health workers in this teaching hospital who are directly involved in hospital administration in the course of their work,” he explained.
Uneke said experts with extensive experience in the medical oxygen ecosystem had been assembled to train participants and share practical knowledge acquired over the years.
He expressed optimism that the programme would create opportunities for new partnerships, collaborations, engagements and health interventions at the teaching hospital.
He also commended the Chief Medical Director of DUFUTH for facilitating the successful organisation of the workshop.
Uneke expressed particular appreciation for the participation of Engr. Dr. Hakeem Babatunde, whose company designed and installed the hospital’s medical gas piping system.
Babatunde, who spoke on “Building and Maintenance of Hospital Oxygen Infrastructure and System,” explained the major components of medical oxygen infrastructure, including on-site oxygen generation, bulk liquid oxygen supply, cylinder manifolds and oxygen distribution networks.
He also addressed monitoring, control and alarm systems, pipeline design, control valves, preventive and corrective maintenance, safety hazards and emergency planning.
According to him, an effective medical oxygen pipeline system offers improved safety, reliability and operational efficiency in healthcare facilities.
Another resource person, Dr. Nnenna Nweke, while speaking on “Clinical and Physiological Framework: Oxygen Need and Demand,” explained the relationship between the lungs, blood and heart in ensuring adequate oxygen supply to body tissues.
Nweke said the three systems work together to ensure that cellular oxygen supply is matched with physiological demand, warning that any disruption could result in serious health consequences.
She also identified components of medical gas pipeline systems to include pipes for oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, carbon dioxide and vacuum, as well as Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging Systems (AGSS).
Other components, she said, include line isolation valves, bed-head units, area valve units, vacuum plants, oxygen cylinder manifolds and nitrous oxide manifolds.
Describing the human body as “an oxygen machine,” Nweke stressed the need for uninterrupted oxygen delivery to body tissues, particularly in critical care and emergency situations.
Dr. Victor Uduma spoke on “Oxygen Supply Chain,” while Dr. Friday Okonna handled sessions on “Medical Oxygen Therapy Part One” and “Medical Oxygen Therapy Part Two.”
The workshop also featured the administration of pre- and post-workshop questionnaires to participants by Dr. Enyi Amos, goodwill messages from stakeholders and other technical activities.
The EQUI-RESP Africa Project in Ebonyi State is hosted by DUFUHS in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, UK.
