Aitutaki’s newly opened oxygen plant is expected to provide a significant boost to the island’s healthcare services, while expert technicians work to ensure its smooth operation.

Secretary of Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health (TMO), Bob Williams, confirmed that the oxygen plants for Aitutaki were made available to the residents last week, boosting the island’s healthcare services.

His comments came after the official opening of the oxygen plant on Wednesday last week on Aitutaki, marking a significant milestone for its people.

In an interview with Cook Islands News, Williams emphasised the importance of the oxygen plants being made available for Aitutaki, adding that expert technicians from overseas are in the country to ensure the smooth operations of the oxygen plant.

“There are some technical people that are coming here into the country to ensure that the oxygen plants in Aitutaki will operate efficiently,” Williams said on Friday.

“So we’re looking at that and it should be available for use in Aitutaki this week and we’re hoping that it will run smoothly.

“We have one here in Rarotonga … if we are short of oxygen cylinders here in Rarotonga, we can always bring some (from) Aitutaki. Rarotonga supplies for the islands with oxygen cylinders that are required for the people.”

Te Marae Ora and the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrated the official dedication and opening of the Aitutaki Oxygen Plant on Wednesday.

The opening ceremony was held at Aitutaki Hospital and attended by the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, accompanied by his delegation.

He was also joined by the Minister for Health, Rose Toki-Brown, Aitutaki mayor Tekura Bishop, Aitutaki Members of Parliament, along with other invited guests and government officials.

Araura School students and Aitutaki’s Te Marae Ora staff extended an official warm welcome to all attendees at the ceremony through performances to acknowledge this milestone for Aitutaki.