April 22, 2024
The Issue
Low blood oxygen, or hypoxemia, is a life-threatening complication of many illnesses such as pneumonia and malaria, as well as preterm birth, surgery, labor and delivery, and other conditions. Hypoxemia contributes to over a million preventable deaths in low-income countries every year.
Providing concentrated medical oxygen, known as oxygen therapy, can prevent many of these deaths. But treatment in low-income countries is often limited by poor hypoxemia diagnosis and unreliable oxygen supplies, due to high prices and weak maintenance systems. Pulse oximeters, simple handheld devices that measure blood oxygen saturation to identify which patients need oxygen, aren’t available in over 90 percent of facilities, and fewer than half of all facilities have access to oxygen.
CHAI's Approach
CHAI is working to expand access to medical oxygen in five countries with the highest rates of mortality for pediatric pneumonia – India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda – with an emphasis on vulnerable groups such as newborns and children. In addition, we support governments and health administrators to improve hypoxemia screening, through training and access to critical tools like pulse oximeters, and in reforming national policies and financing to sustain these improvements. By driving better hypoxemia management in just these five countries, we can prevent 40,000 deaths every year, and cut hypoxemia-related deaths in half by 2025.
Results
17
countries have launched national strategic plans to increase access to oxygen
43%
reduction in price of bulk liquid oxygen and cylinder refills across five African countries
18K+
health workers, hospital admins, and biomedical engineers trained in oxygen therapy, consumption monitoring, and equipment maintenance
Spotlight
Our Work
Join the Team
CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.
View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions
Join the Team
CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.
View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions