NOVEL OXYGEN SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CHILD PNEUMONIA DEATHS

Deaths from pneumonia, the leading cause of child deaths worldwide, can be reduced with oxygen, but lack of reliable supplies in developing countries stops most from receiving it. This project aims to improve access to oxygen using novel sustainable solutions.
The objective of this project is to develop an oxygen (O2) delivery system for use in resource-limited settings that will operate reliably and cost-effectively with little or no maintenance and limited or absent mains power. No such solution currently exists. We propose to develop and field test such an oxygen system and to produce a specification that is suitable for production. With such a product lifesaving treatment could reach those for whom it is currently beyond reach, and do so at a much lower cost than traditional oxygen cylinders.

Deaths from pneumonia, the leading killer of children globally, can be prevented with oxygen, but lack of reliable supplies in developing countries stops them getting it. This project aims to improve access to oxygen using novel sustainable solutions.
The objective is to develop an oxygen (O2) delivery system for use in resource-limited settings that will operate 24/7 with little or no maintenance and limited or absent mains power - no such solution currently exists. We propose to develop and field test a 24/7 oxygen system incorporating oxygen concentrator technology and power storage, and independently power it using solar power for contexts where no power is available. With such a product lifesaving treatment could reach those for whom it is currently beyond reach, and do so at a much lower cost than traditional oxygen cylinders.

1. Who will benefit?

Children, families and communities in developing countries, their governments, child health advocates and policy-makers, private industry, and academics.


2. How will they benefit?

Children, families and communities
The most important potential impact of this research is on child mortality. Almost two million children die every year from pneumonia, which is more than from malaria, HIV/AIDs and tuberculosis combined. Improving access to oxygen has been shown to reduce mortality from childhood pneumonia by one-third. Up to half a million children annually could be saved if they received oxygen (one-third of the 1.5-2 million pneumonia deaths), and oxygen provision is potentially very cost-effective compared to other child health interventions. Deaths could also be prevented from a wide range of hypoxaemic illnesses in childhood (such as birth asphyxia, malaria and sepsis).

This research can potentially impact maternal and other adult mortality also as the product would make oxygen available for any hypoxaemic illness in children or adults.

The timeframe for potential impact on mortality is comparatively short. The project will determine the specification of the end-product in 30 months, paving the way to early commercialisation and uptake.

Governments and society
The positive impact on mortality will enhance standards of living and social cohesion. This lowered mortality is potentially accompanied by a significant cost saving for public health services, as the product is designed to produce oxygen much more cheaply than conventional cylinder oxygen. This cost-saving would potentially free up resources to strengthen other areas of resource-constrained health services.

Child Health advocates and policy-makers
The research will benefit child health advocates and policy-makers who will be able to press for oxygen treatment to move up the child health policy agenda because it will move out of the 'too-hard basket' into the category of a realistically soluble problem. Such groups as the Oxygen working group of the IUATLD, and Child and Adolescent Health at WHO are examples of advocates who will benefit.


Private Industry
A product such as the one that will be developed in this project will potentially provide direct and indirect economic benefits through its commercialistion. There is strong interest within the UK in commercialising the product that results from this project.

Academics
The academic collaboration and outputs resulting from this study are notable and are detailed in the 'Academic Beneficiaries section'