Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the Gambia
OBJECTIVE: To compare oxygen supply options for health facilities in the Gambia and develop a decision-making algorithm for choosing oxygen delivery systems in Africa and the rest of the developing world. METHODS: Oxygen cylinders and concentrators were compared in terms of functionality and cost. I...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The World Health Organization
2009-10-01
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| Series: | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862009001000012&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1827334443965087744 |
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| author | Stephen RC Howie Sarah Hill Augustine Ebonyi Gautam Krishnan Ousman Njie Momodou Sanneh Mariatou Jallow Warren Stevens Kevin Taylor Martin W Weber Pamela Collier Njai Mary Tapgun Tumani Corrah Kim Mulholland David Peel Malick Njie Philip C Hill Richard A Adegbola |
| author_facet | Stephen RC Howie Sarah Hill Augustine Ebonyi Gautam Krishnan Ousman Njie Momodou Sanneh Mariatou Jallow Warren Stevens Kevin Taylor Martin W Weber Pamela Collier Njai Mary Tapgun Tumani Corrah Kim Mulholland David Peel Malick Njie Philip C Hill Richard A Adegbola |
| author_sort | Stephen RC Howie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: To compare oxygen supply options for health facilities in the Gambia and develop a decision-making algorithm for choosing oxygen delivery systems in Africa and the rest of the developing world. METHODS: Oxygen cylinders and concentrators were compared in terms of functionality and cost. Interviews with key informants using locally developed and adapted WHO instruments, operational assessments, cost-modelling and cost measurements were undertaken to determine whether oxygen cylinders or concentrators were the better choice. An algorithm and a software tool to guide the choice of oxygen delivery system were constructed. FINDINGS: In the Gambia, oxygen concentrators have significant advantages compared to cylinders where power is reliable; in other settings, cylinders are preferable as long as transporting them is feasible. Cylinder costs are greatly influenced by leakage, which is common, whereas concentrator costs are affected by the cost of power far more than by capital costs. Only two of 12 facilities in the Gambia were found suitable for concentrators; at the remaining 10 facilities, cylinders were the better option. CONCLUSION: Neither concentrators nor cylinders are well suited to every situation, but a simple options assessment can determine which is better in each setting. Nationally this would result in improved supply and lower costs by comparison with conventional cylinders alone, although ensuring a reliable supply would remain a challenge. The decision algorithm and software tool designed for the Gambia could be applied in other developing countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:54:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66529ceba22845bfa59a83564ed3e947 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0042-9686 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T17:54:45Z |
| publishDate | 2009-10-01 |
| publisher | The World Health Organization |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| spelling | doaj.art-66529ceba22845bfa59a83564ed3e9472024-03-02T12:44:45ZengThe World Health OrganizationBulletin of the World Health Organization0042-96862009-10-018710763771S0042-96862009001000012Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the GambiaStephen RC Howie0Sarah Hill1Augustine Ebonyi2Gautam Krishnan3Ousman Njie4Momodou Sanneh5Mariatou Jallow6Warren Stevens7Kevin Taylor8Martin W Weber9Pamela Collier Njai10Mary Tapgun11Tumani Corrah12Kim Mulholland13David Peel14Malick Njie15Philip C Hill16Richard A Adegbola17Bacterial Diseases ProgrammeUniversity of OtagoBacterial Diseases ProgrammeMedical Research Council LaboratoriesIntegrated Management of Childhood Illness ProgrammeBacterial Diseases ProgrammeDepartment of State for Health and Social WelfareLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineMedical Research Council LaboratoriesWorld Health OrganizationMedical Research Council LaboratoriesMedical Research Council LaboratoriesMedical Research Council LaboratoriesLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineAshdown ConsultantsDepartment of State for Health and Social WelfareUniversity of OtagoBacterial Diseases ProgrammeOBJECTIVE: To compare oxygen supply options for health facilities in the Gambia and develop a decision-making algorithm for choosing oxygen delivery systems in Africa and the rest of the developing world. METHODS: Oxygen cylinders and concentrators were compared in terms of functionality and cost. Interviews with key informants using locally developed and adapted WHO instruments, operational assessments, cost-modelling and cost measurements were undertaken to determine whether oxygen cylinders or concentrators were the better choice. An algorithm and a software tool to guide the choice of oxygen delivery system were constructed. FINDINGS: In the Gambia, oxygen concentrators have significant advantages compared to cylinders where power is reliable; in other settings, cylinders are preferable as long as transporting them is feasible. Cylinder costs are greatly influenced by leakage, which is common, whereas concentrator costs are affected by the cost of power far more than by capital costs. Only two of 12 facilities in the Gambia were found suitable for concentrators; at the remaining 10 facilities, cylinders were the better option. CONCLUSION: Neither concentrators nor cylinders are well suited to every situation, but a simple options assessment can determine which is better in each setting. Nationally this would result in improved supply and lower costs by comparison with conventional cylinders alone, although ensuring a reliable supply would remain a challenge. The decision algorithm and software tool designed for the Gambia could be applied in other developing countries.http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862009001000012&lng=en&tlng=en |
| spellingShingle | Stephen RC Howie Sarah Hill Augustine Ebonyi Gautam Krishnan Ousman Njie Momodou Sanneh Mariatou Jallow Warren Stevens Kevin Taylor Martin W Weber Pamela Collier Njai Mary Tapgun Tumani Corrah Kim Mulholland David Peel Malick Njie Philip C Hill Richard A Adegbola Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the Gambia Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| title | Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the Gambia |
| title_full | Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the Gambia |
| title_fullStr | Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the Gambia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the Gambia |
| title_short | Meeting oxygen needs in Africa: an options analysis from the Gambia |
| title_sort | meeting oxygen needs in africa an options analysis from the gambia |
| url | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862009001000012&lng=en&tlng=en |
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