OpenO2

OpenO2 at the Global Health Informatics Institute (GHII) works to improve oxygen access and sustainability across Malawi. The program uses a team of biomedical engineers and technicians who operate mobile workshops to maintain and repair more than 2,500 oxygen concentrators and pulse oximeters in all central, district hospitals and selected mission hospitals in Malawi. Alongside technical services, OpenO2 runs research and development initiatives to create practical solutions that enhance oxygen delivery in resource-limited settings. The program also hosts the OpenO2 Corps Internship, a six-month training program for recent graduates in biomedical engineering, designed to build local capacity and provide hands-on experience in medical device maintenance and innovation. 

Internship Program – OpenO2 Corps:

Since its establishment, the OpenO2 Corps Internship has trained 32 recent graduates in biomedical engineering and related fields.

• 21 graduates have secured full-time employment with organizations such as GHII, Village Reach, PIH, and ESCOM.

• 4 interns are currently still in training.

• 7 graduates have not yet secured formal employment.

Current Projects:

• SINTHA Malawi Project (EU-funded) – Maintaining and assessing more than 2,500 oxygen concentrators in 38 hospitals across Malawi. The project also delivers on-the-job training for biomedical technicians as part of a four-year study to demonstrate that structured maintenance is more cost-effective and empowering than reliance on new purchases or donations.
  
  

• Zeolite Regeneration – Developing and testing low-cost methods for restoring oxygen concentrator zeolite beds. Link to preprint paper
  
  

• High-Flow (10L) Ambulance Oxygen Concentrator – Designing a vehicle-powered oxygen concentrator to provide continuous oxygen supply during ambulance transport, reducing reliance on oxygen cylinders.
  
  

• Nitrogen Generation Project – In collaboration with Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), generating nitrogen of up to 95.5% purity to create an inert environment for medical gas pipeline welding and as a source of dry gas for zeolite regeneration.

• OpenSpO2 Project – An initiative to assess, repair, and improve the use of pulse oximeters in hospitals, ensuring reliable SpO₂ monitoring for patient care.

Past Projects:

• PATH Oxygen Concentrator Maintenance (2022–2023) – With support from PATH Malawi, maintained concentrators across 72 health facilities.

• Oxygen Analyzer Development – Designed and tested prototypes for monitoring concentrator performance.

• Neonatal Oxygen Concentrator (Proof of Concept) – Developed an early-stage prototype aimed at improving newborn oxygen therapy.
  
  

Project Partners: Malawi Ministry of Health, European Union (EU), DAK foundation, Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), PATH Malawi.

Website: www.openo2.org