Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support

Ensuring the availability of stable, sustainable medical oxygen and reliable power in West Africa.

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) has received funding to continue the Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support (AIRS) project and provide renewable solar energy in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia.

Phase 1 (2023–2026)

Key Milestones

Oxygen-generating plants installed at hospitals lacking reliable supply
Solar panels installed to provide ongoing, stable power to hospitals
In-hospital oxygen piping installed to run direct lines to patient rooms
Biomedical technician training delivered for solar and oxygen systems

The Gambia

An oxygen-generating facility was developed at a second hospital. Previously, only one hospital in the region had medical oxygen.

Sierra Leone

Access to hospital-based energy was improved through renewable solar energy installation to maintain reliable oxygen supply.

Liberia

An oxygen-generating facility was developed for a rural hospital, with solar-based renewable energy to power the supply.

Funding: The project was made possible by a $5.5 million grant from Direct Relief and in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Global Alliance of Perioperative Professionals (JHU-GAPP) and the Institute of Global Perioperative Care.

Project Chair: John B. Sampson, MD

Phase 2 (2026–2030)

Building on the first phase of the project, phase 2 will focus on providing reliable solar power that will help hospitals maintain critical services such as oxygen delivery, medical equipment, lighting, and computers. By reducing the need for costly diesel and other fuels, hospitals can redirect resources toward patient care and essential services.

Funding: This next phase is made possible by a generous $10.4 million donation from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Project Updates

Blog

President's Message: Exploring SCCM: Breathing Life Into West Africa

SCCM President Jose L. Pascual, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FACS, FCCM, provides an update on the completion of SCCM's first healthcare infrastructure initiative—Africa Infrastructure Relief and Suppo...

Knowledge Area: Crisis Management Blog Worldwide Data

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Blog

AIRS Project Providing Medical Oxygen and Stable Electricity to Africa

The Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support (AIRS) project focuses on delivering stable medical oxygen and electricity to hospitals in Sierra Leone, the Gambia, and Liberia, empowering clinicians to ...

Knowledge Area: Blog Professional Development and Education

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Podcast

SCCM Pod-518: Achieving Sustainable Healthcare in Africa

Host Samantha Gambles Farr, MSN, AG-ACNP, FNP-C, CCRN, RNFA, is joined by John B. Sampson, MD, to discuss the Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support (AIRS). AIRS tackles challenges such as energy sh...

Knowledge Area: Crisis Management Podcast Worldwide Data Other

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Blog

Trip to West Africa Kicks Off SCCM AIRS Project

Oxygen is essential for human life and has no substitute. Its importance was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic by the many patients who had difficulty breathing. Medical oxygen is used in many ...

Knowledge Area: Blog Professional Development and Education

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Blog

SCCM Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support Project Will Improve Access to Oxygen in West Africa

The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) new global health initiative, Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support (AIRS), will ensure the availability of medical oxygen to patients in the Ga...

Knowledge Area: Administration Blog Quality and Patient Safety

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Additional Reading

SCCM Partners

Direct Relief
A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.

Johns Hopkins University Global Alliance of Perioperative Professionals
The Global Alliance of Perioperative Professionals’ (JHU-GAPP) mission is to provide relevant, appropriate, affordable and sustainable solutions to improve perioperative care in austere environments through training, research, clinical care improvement, and the dissemination of knowledge. Their motto is Closing the Gap on Global Health Disparities.

Institute of Global Perioperative Care
The Institute of Global Perioperative Care is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve healthcare delivery to underserved populations globally through research, training, clinical care, and health system strengthening.

Special Thanks to:

Diaspora African Forum
The Diaspora African Forum (DAF) is the first and only diplomatic mission dedicated to the African Diaspora. The DAF's mission is to support the African Union in the representation of the African Diaspora and their strategic involvement in the ongoing development of Africa. Its mandate is to pledge full support as a change agent toward the integration of Africans in the diaspora while strengthening African Diaspora engagement in Ghana and the continent. The DAF aims to be the bridge that unites the African Diaspora and Africa.