The USAID-supported Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project hosted a webinar on strategies for improving access to medical oxygen and strengthening national oxygen ecosystems. Oxygen is a life-saving commodity in the fight against COVID-19. The historically short supply of oxygen in low- and middle-income countries has been exacerbated by the global pandemic, along with challenging procedures for the importation, local production, and delivery to patients in need.

This webinar provides guidance to governments and implementing partners in low- and middle-income countries and examples of a range of approaches to strengthening oxygen ecosystems. Topics include improving access to oxygen; improving hospital infrastructure for delivering oxygen to patient beds; and the roles of governments, donors, communities, and civil society in ensuring the availability and better use of oxygen.

Access the webinar recording here and supplemental presentations below.

• Strengthening oxygen ecosystems during the COVID-19 pandemic (combined slide deck)
• Overview of global oxygen landscape and ecosystem before the pandemic (Mir Rahimzai, FHI 360/EpiC)
• Overview of how COVID-19 is impacting Oxygen in countries (Nikki Tyler, USAID)
• Liquid Oxygen Challenges and Opportunities (Zachary Katz, Clinton Health Access Initiative)
• Overview of Unitaid support to LMICs for improving access to medical oxygen (Robert Matiru, Unitaid/World Health Organization)
• Strengthening Oxygen Ecosystems in Nepal (Bhagawan Shrestha, FHI 360 Nepal)