Build Health International

Project Description

The Principal Recipient procuring oxygen plants in Kenya, Amref, sought to increase access to oxygen by installing 22 new oxygen plants throughout Kenya. The scale of the project and complexity of procuring plants from three unique suppliers prompted Amref to seek technical assistance from BHI related to project management. BHI provided the Amref team with project management tools and support to better track the various procurement and site works activities. After the initial purchase of the oxygen plants, Amref decided to increase the sustainability of the oxygen plant operating plans by adding cylinder-filling booster compressors at a number of sites.

BHI provided technical assistance to Amref to define the technical specifications of booster compressors that would accomplish the sustainability goals in mind. BHI also helped Amref to evaluate necessary modifications or enhancements to the oxygen plant facilities undergoing construction to accommodate the new booster compressors, both from a structural and electrical standpoint. When the request for medical oxygen training came from Amref, BHI was well-positioned to respond, and the September/October 2025 training team included three of BHI’s Kenya-based engineers. Due to the high number of new oxygen plants and operators, BHI provided a Training of Trainers (TOT) in addition to Management and Maintenance Training for oxygen plants. The TOT created a cohort of trainers in Kenya qualified to teach BHI’s five-day medical oxygen plant Maintenance Training. This cohort is well-positioned to roll out the training to operators that did not attend the BHI training, including to operators of established oxygen plants in Kenya.

BHI is supporting Amref as the 22 new oxygen plants aim to commission in late 2025 and early 2026.