This child is receiving oxygen through a solar-powered concentrator – an innovative solution that can save lives in places with frequent power shortages, such as this hospital in Somalia.

Pneumonia accounts for 800 000 deaths per year of which 20-40 % could be saved with oxygen. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated global demand for medical oxygen.

In early 2021, solar-powered oxygen concentrators were installed in a regional children’s hospital in Galmudug state, Somalia. Since its installations many more lives have been saved compared to the previous situation.

The innovation was installed thanks to a new WHO Innovation Scaling framework – a WHO facilitated multi-partner approach to innovation scaling. Under the leadership of the WHO Country, Regional and government partners, and facilitated by the WHO Innovation team, along with important contributions from WHO technical departments, innovators and funders, this pilot illustrates how innovation can go hand in hand with existing programmes and help address barriers to existing programmes, such as energy supply, affordability, access, and training.  

WHO’s Innovation Scaling Framework illustrates the multi-partner collaborative approach WHO is taking to scaling innovation by linking three dimensions of innovation scaling: 1) the health demands and priorities of countries, 2) the supply of ready to scale innovations, and 3) innovation assessment throughout from incubating (through partners) to implementing and sustaining innovations.