In what has been hailed as a “moment of relief and victory” for healthcare across Bayelsa State, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, delivered a powerful address during the official commissioning of a Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant at the General Hospital in Sagbama. This historic development represents a significant leap forward in the state’s effort to deliver sustainable and equitable healthcare under the Assured Prosperity Administration of Governor Douye Diri.
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Standing before a gathering of dignitaries, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, Professor Brisibe expressed deep gratitude to Governor Diri for his unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare infrastructure across the state. “This milestone is a direct fruit of your vision,” the Commissioner noted, pointing to the expansion of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, the recent opening of a Haemodialysis Centre at the 500-bed hospital, and reconstruction of several health facilities.
But the commissioning of the PSA plant held an especially emotional weight.
“For many years,” Brisibe reflected, “the absence of an oxygen plant in Bayelsa left us in difficult and painful situations. Too many times, doctors and nurses watched helplessly as patients in dire need of oxygen struggled for breath. Oxygen is life… invisible, yet indispensable.”
Today, that painful narrative has begun to change.
The newly commissioned Sagbama PSA plant now joins two other strategically positioned plants at FMC Yenagoa and General Hospital Brass, covering Bayelsa’s three senatorial districts. This means critical medical oxygen will now be within reach for all communities — no matter how remote — providing a crucial safety net for emergencies including childbirth complications, respiratory infections, and accident trauma.
“This plant is our comeback,” said Brisibe, echoing Governor Diri’s famous words: “Every setback is a setup for a comeback.” The Commissioner underscored the ripple effect of this achievement — from saving lives today to empowering generations tomorrow. “A child who breathes today because of this plant may grow up to become the doctor who saves others tomorrow.”
The success of this project, Brisibe emphasized, was made possible through strong collaboration between the Bayelsa State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and the Global Fund. Months of technical assessments, planning, and resource alignment were critical to realizing this dream.
The implications of this development extend beyond individual lives. It represents a robust response to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic — when access to oxygen became a life-or-death determinant across the globe. With this infrastructure now in place, Bayelsa is better positioned to respond to future public health crises.
As the ceremony concluded, the message from the Honourable Commissioner was clear: healthcare in Bayelsa is no longer in survival mode — it is in transformation mode.
“With this plant,” Brisibe concluded, “we breathe easier — both literally and figuratively. Together, we are building a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous Bayelsa.”
📌 This editorial was written to spotlight an important milestone in public healthcare delivery in Bayelsa State. The PSA oxygen plant is more than a piece of medical infrastructure — it is a symbol of progress, partnership, and preparedness.
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