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Global Medical Oxygen Access: A Critical Need
A recent international report has highlighted a significant health crisis: nearly 60% of the global population lacks access to safe medical oxygen. This deficit results in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths annually and adversely impacts the quality of life for millions.
Co-authored by the University of Auckland, this report is part of the Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security. Associate Professor Stephen Howie from the University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) served as an advisor for the commission and contributed to the findings presented in the report titled Reducing Global Inequities in Medical Oxygen Access, released on February 18.
A striking revelation from the report indicates that around five billion individuals, predominantly in low and middle-income nations, do not have reliable access to safe and affordable medical oxygen.
Associate Professor Howie, a specialist in child health and pediatric care, expressed hope that their research will lead to saving more lives, enabling both children and adults to not only survive but truly thrive.
The research team at Auckland University is at the forefront of efforts to enhance access to medical oxygen worldwide. Recently, Howie delivered a keynote address at the World Lung Health Conference held in Bali, where he elaborated on the challenges faced and prospective solutions for this pressing global issue.
“My work on oxygen treatment for diseases linked to low oxygen levels has spanned two decades, specifically focusing on regions like Africa and the Pacific. While my initial focus was on children as a pediatrician, we quickly realized that our approach must accommodate individuals of all ages,” Howie stated.
He emphasized the critical necessity that inspired their work: “I witnessed, firsthand, the devastating impact of inadequate oxygen supplies in hospitals across Africa, where preventable deaths from conditions like pneumonia were far too common. This reality affected families and healthcare professionals deeply. It became our mission to ensure that ‘no child should die for lack of oxygen,’ a principle that extends to adults as well.”
Fiji provides a poignant example of the oxygen crisis, especially during the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the country recorded the highest infection rates globally. The response to this crisis benefited from a strong collaboration between the Fiji Ministry of Health, the University of Auckland, Cure Kids, and Fiji National University, with funding provided by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and various other donors, according to Howie.
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