By Justus Adetomiwa

Anambra State Government has called for a nationwide legislation to outlaw the use of industrial oxygen in hospitals, citing the severe health risks posed by the practice.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant, Ms. Nwamaka Arinze, in Awka.

Dr. Mefor expressed serious concern over the continuous use of industrial oxygen in medical facilities across the country, instead of medically-approved oxygen meant for human use, stressing that such practice is unsafe and poses a threat to patients’ lives.

He said, “Since it has been proven that industrial oxygen is not good for human consumption, it should be a legislative issue.

“There should be a law against it, providing a clear punishment for its usage.

“This is because without legislation, our people will still go for what they consider cheap regardless of the final outcome,” the commissioner said.

Dr. Mefor further noted that it is morally wrong and inhumane to endanger human lives in a bid to make quick financial gains, emphasising that financial profits should never come at the cost of people’s health.

“The only way to really curb this menace is through legislation and enforcement of the law,” he added.

On her part, Ms. Arinze, who is also the Managing Director of the Oxygen Production Plant at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, threw her weight behind the commissioner’s position, reiterating the need for firm legislative action and proper enforcement to halt the use of industrial oxygen in healthcare.

She said that the administration of Governor Charles Soludo is committed to ensuring that medically safe oxygen is available, accessible, and affordable to every resident in Anambra State.

Arinze also lamented the continued use of industrial oxygen in hospitals, disclosing that the plant consistently produces pure medical oxygen and maintains reserves for emergencies.

She said, “I thank God we have been producing pure medical oxygen. We always have standby oxygen in case of emergency.

“The challenge we are having is trying to educate some doctors who I know that they know that industrial oxygen is not good for human consumption.

“You know here in Nigeria, they only do autopsy for corpses in controversy, if they are given industrial oxygen and they die, they still pay the doctor before they carry the corpse.

“It is ours to build and not to destroy. It is ours to save lives in any little way we can,” she said.