2024
Biomedical Engineering and
Medical Oxygen Milestones
A Note from the Team
At Build Health International (BHI), we are committed to improving access to medical oxygen and strengthening biomedical engineering capacity in low-resource settings around the world. With over a decade of experience in building sustainable healthcare infrastructure, we made significant strides in closing the oxygen access gap in 2024.
From providing training for biomedical engineers and technicians across Africa, to expanding into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, BHI advanced in building the technical capacity of healthcare systems. In partnership with organizations like the Global Fund, Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL), the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Clinton Health Access Initiative, PATH, Skoll Foundation, Wagner Foundation, and local ministries of health, we have ensured that oxygen systems are equipped for long-term sustainability long after they are installed.
Moving forward, BHI remains committed to closing the oxygen access gap – one project at a time. This report highlights key achievements, from the training and support of healthcare teams worldwide, to hands-on technical assistance in the maintenance and commissioning of pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants, ensuring that healthcare facilities have the tools and knowledge needed to save lives.
We are proud of the progress made in 2024 and excited for what lies ahead as we continue to build sustainable health systems.
Training and Technical Advisory
Training
Installing oxygen systems is only the first step in providing reliable, life-saving care. Long-term success and resilience of healthcare infrastructure depends on the local capacity to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair oxygen systems.
In 2024, BHI delivered 26 training sessions across 14 countries, equipping 472 biomedical engineers, technicians, and healthcare staff.
BHI’s training curriculum grew rapidly to meet the evolving needs of our partners. We developed new training types focused on critical areas such as safety, differentiated technical assessments, and interactive workshops designed to enhance trainee participation and reinforce core concepts. Our expanded curriculum now includes maintenance training, management training, advanced training, site assessment training, electrical assessment training, repair assessment training, post-commissioning assessment training, and safety training. To ensure broader accessibility, we also delivered training in seven languages – English, French, Lao, Khmer, Kyrgyz, Montenegrin, and Portuguese – reaching an even wider audience and fostering a deeper impact across regions.
Technical Advisory:
The Global Fund Project BOXER
BHI’s Biomedical Engineering and Medical Oxygen team continued to provide critical technical advisory services to support the successful implementation and operation of oxygen systems. Our technical advisory efforts include assistance for PSA plant procurement and implementation, including plant specifications and ordering; site preparation and installation; and training and PSA plant operations.
Through partnerships and global initiatives like the Global Fund Project BOXER, in 2024 alone, BHI provided technical advisory to 360 oxygen plants across 47 countries.
Year in Review
January 2024
Members of the BHI Biomedical Engineering and Medical Oxygen team and partners convene in Nairobi, Kenya to draft a strategic plan to provide advanced biomedical training capacity through the Global Fund, supported Project BOXER.
February 2024
BHI joined the Global Fund and i+solutions on a joint mission to Madagascar to finalize, with the country team and other stakeholders, a solution for a sustainable and affordable energy backup system for all sites. The visit concluded with an alignment between all stakeholders. BHI developed energy configurations to supply the PSA plant which will save fuel and site preparation cost by using backup manifolds.
March 2024
BHI inaugurates its Training Center at Rwanda Polytechnic – Kigali College, providing hands-on biomedical equipment training with support from the Skoll and Wagner Foundations. In March, the center hosts safety training, developed by BHI in response to a local hospital explosion.
April 2024
BHI conducts a comprehensive assessment of biomedical equipment and executes preliminary repairs with the on-site biomedical team at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda. With support from the Massachusetts General Hospital Global Health Collaborative (MGH-GHC), BHI provided introductory training focusing on anaesthesia machines, ventilators, patient monitors, and infant incubators.
May 2024
BHI returns to Sierra Leone for a full-circle moment, following March 2023’s management training with intensive maintenance and advanced training for biomedical engineers, technicians, and hospital staff.
June 2024
BHI expands its Oxygen and Biomedical Training Program into Asia, conducting training sessions in Bangladesh, Laos, and Cambodia through the Global Fund’s Project BOXER.
July 2024
While conducting medical oxygen training in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, BHI discovers that the spare filters for Takeo Hospital’s PSA plant were incorrectly sized. This attention to detail ensures the plant’s continued operation and uninterrupted oxygen delivery to patients.
August 2024
BHI Oxygen and Biomedical team members Andrew Johnston, Britta Johnston, Dr. Christine Mutaganzwa, and David Acolatse are featured in the PLOS Global Health Blog for their discussion on the critical role of biomedical engineering in healthcare.
September 2024
BHI expands its Training Program into the MENA region with a five-day PSA Plant Maintenance training in Kerkennah, Tunisia, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). This effort supports Tunisia’s healthcare system, which faced significant oxygen shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2024
BHI continues to expand its training program, now into Europe, with a two-day management training in Montenegro. As part of BHI’s effort to support the country in the procurement and commissioning of its first PSA plant, the team transferred necessary knowledge to senior health leaders and decision-makers.
November 2024
BHI provides intensive hands-on advanced training to Partners In Health (PIH) biomedical engineers and technicians from Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. The multi-site training takes place at Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) and the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE) in Sierra Leone, where BHI and PIH are closely collaborating on projects. BHI is excited to continue strengthening the biomedical capabilities of PIH teams, enhancing their ability to support oxygen systems across their regions
December 2024
BHI conducted its first training on VPSA technology in Porto-Novo, Benin, expanding beyond PSA systems. The program included a two-day management training for senior administrators and a five-day maintenance training for technical staff, equipping participants to integrate and sustain VPSA/PSA plants within health systems.
Training Center and Permanent Resources
Training Center
2024 marked a transformative year for the BHI Biomedical Engineering and Medical Oxygen team with the inauguration of our Training Center at Rwanda Polytechnic – Kigali College in March.
Made possible through the generous support of the Skoll and Wagner Foundations and in partnership with the Rwanda Biomedical Center and Ministry of Health, these efforts are part of a program focused on health system strengthening and improving infrastructure standards.
This state-of-the-art facility offers hands-on biomedical equipment training. It is uniquely equipped with an on-site oxygen PSA plant installed by BHI, providing trainees with real-world experience. This center will serve as a hub for building local capacity, equipping technicians, students, and healthcare leaders with the essential skills to operate and maintain oxygen systems, ensuring long-term sustainability in the region.
Permanent Resources
BHI has diligently developed permanent online learning resources designed to make technical knowledge about PSA plants and oxygen delivery systems more accessible. These resources provide comprehensive guidance on PSA technology, enabling users to deepen their understanding and build capacity in the biomedical sector. With the aim of reaching a global audience, we are excited to roll out this initiative, which will expand access to high-quality training resources and further strengthen healthcare systems in low-resource settings
Get Involved
As we reflect on the progress made in 2024 and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities of 2025, we invite you to join us in advancing access to sustainable medical oxygen systems worldwide.
Explore our technical website at bhioxygen.org, where you'll find a wealth of resources, including instructional videos, written guides, and the ability to submit support requests.
Together, we can continue closing the oxygen gap and building resilient healthcare systems that save lives.
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