Medical Oxygen or Nothing: Anambra Commissioner Demands Legislation to End Use of Industrial Oxygen in Hospitals

 

Awka, Nigeria — April 15, 2025

In a passionate appeal to safeguard public health, Dr. Law Mefor, Anambra State Commissioner for Information, has called for urgent legislative action to prohibit the use of industrial-grade oxygen in healthcare settings across Nigeria. The Commissioner’s remarks came during a courtesy visit to the Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant, situated within the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka.

Dr. Mefor condemned what he described as a troubling and ongoing reliance on industrial oxygen in some hospitals, warning that the practice poses a significant risk to patients and public health. He argued that only medical-grade oxygen—specifically refined and tested for human use—should be administered in healthcare facilities.

“Medical oxygen saves lives, but when industrial oxygen is used in its place, it becomes a silent killer,” Mefor said. “This dangerous trend must be curbed through legislation that prohibits the use of substandard oxygen in our hospitals. Without legal deterrents, many will continue to prioritize cost over safety.”

According to the Commissioner, the low cost of industrial oxygen often lures some healthcare providers into dangerous territory, using non-medical alternatives that are neither purified nor monitored for safety. He emphasized that profit-making should never come at the expense of human life.

“Every kobo earned in the healthcare space must be clean and accountable. It is inhumane to risk lives in the name of cutting costs or maximizing profit,” he added.

Dr. Mefor further cited enforcement as a major hurdle, acknowledging that while laws exist to regulate health practices, implementation has historically been weak in Anambra State. He noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had to shut down the Bridgehead Drug Market recently due to rampant sale of fake and expired medicines—a reflection, he said, of the broader systemic issues that need redress.

“Legislation is crucial, but enforcement is everything,” the Commissioner stressed. “Until violators face real consequences, these harmful practices will persist.”

Echoing his concerns, Ms. Nwamaka Arinze, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant, joined the Commissioner in decrying the use of industrial oxygen in healthcare. She emphasized that the plant produces only pure, medical-grade oxygen that meets national and international standards.

“We’re committed to the mandate of Governor Charles Soludo, which is to make safe and affordable medical oxygen available to every resident of Anambra,” Arinze said. “It’s disheartening to know that some medical professionals, who are fully aware of the dangers, still opt for industrial oxygen.”

Ms. Arinze lamented the challenges of changing attitudes, particularly among some healthcare workers who, she noted, prioritize convenience or cost savings over patient safety. She also pointed to a lack of accountability in many cases, explaining that unless there is a legal or financial consequence, malpractice often goes unpunished.

“In Nigeria, unless there’s a legal dispute, no one asks what caused a patient’s death. If someone dies due to being administered industrial oxygen, the doctor still gets paid, and the family takes the corpse away without questioning the treatment,” she said somberly. “We must choose to protect life—every life.”

Both officials expressed a commitment to educating the public and the medical community about the dangers of industrial oxygen. Dr. Mefor pledged to leverage the Ministry of Information's resources to drive awareness campaigns and support advocacy for new legislation.

“This is not just a policy issue—it’s a moral one,” Mefor concluded. “We must act now to end this deadly practice, or risk losing more lives to a preventable danger.”