The effectiveness and sustainability of appropriate technology for managing hypoxaemia in remote hospitals in Papua New Guinea

Pneumonia is the most common cause of death among children and infants in Papua New Guinea (PNG) . The lethal complication is usually hypoxaemia. Pulse oximeters provide an effective , non-invasive method for the detection of hypoxaemia so that high-risk patients can be identified quickly and given oxygen. Oxygen can be supplied from an oxygen concentrator wherever mains power is available. In 2006 we reported on technical aspects of a programme to install pulse oximeters and oxygen concentrators in 5 rural hospitals in PNG . We aimed to assess whether or not this equipment could make a significant difference to child survival rates and to document what was required to incorporate such technology into everyday clinical practice and to sustain it.