The Respondent reporter Adonis
Byemelwa (right) engaged in an exclusive interview with Pamela Rwezaura at the
Mwalimu Nyerere International Convention Centre on July 17, 2024. Photo:
Mediacom.
By Adonis Byemelwa
In a bold move to combat energy
poverty and enhance healthcare delivery, We Care Solar is setting its sights on
illuminating over 2,000 health facilities across Tanzania in the coming years.
This initiative builds on the organization’s success in providing solar power
solutions to 485 facilities in Tanzania and over 9,000 Primary Health Centers
(PHCs) throughout Africa.
The impact of this program was
recently showcased at a Science Communication event in Dar es Salaam, where
health experts highlighted their contributions to Tanzanian communities in
anticipation of the 11th Tanzania Health Summit in Zanzibar this October.
Pamela Rwezaura, the Tanzania Country
Manager for We Care Solar, emphasizes that this solar initiative not only
aligns with the global shift toward clean energy but is also crucial for
empowering healthcare workers to save lives.
With the World Health Organization
reporting that only 28% of healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa have
reliable electricity, the stakes are high, particularly during obstetric and
neonatal emergencies. Over 100,000 health centers in the region lack adequate
lighting, leading to significant delays in critical medical care.
Tragically, nearly 300,000 women and
one million newborns die each year due to complications related to pregnancy
and childbirth. Timely care is essential during obstetric emergencies, yet the
absence of reliable power in over 100,000 facilities often results in
life-threatening delays.
We Care Solar meets this challenge
head-on with their innovative Solar Suitcases. These compact, user-friendly
systems are equipped with vital tools for healthcare workers, including
high-efficiency LED lights, rechargeable headlamps for better mobility,
cellphone charging capabilities, fetal dopplers for monitoring heartbeats, and
infrared thermometers for measuring vital signs.
"Access to power is key to a
functioning healthcare system," says Rwezaura. "As we advance toward
clean energy, powering healthcare is vital to ensuring health workers can
effectively treat their patients."
In this exclusive Q&A, the
Respondent reporter Adonis Byemelwa speaks with Pamela
Rwezaura to explore the mission, challenges, and future of We Care Solar in
Tanzania.
Q: About the 2,000
targeted health facilities: Is this a phased approach, and what are the
milestones?
To date, 485 Solar Suitcases have been
installed in health facilities across Arusha, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Mara,
Mwanza, Njombe, and Shinyanga, providing reliable lighting and power for
essential medical equipment. In 2024, we launched our five-year national Solar
Suitcase program, aiming to reach 2,000 facilities through a phased approach,
with an average of 400 installations annually.
Q:
How will We Care Solar fund its expansion to 2,000 facilities? Are there
partnerships with the Tanzanian government or other organizations?
We
Care Solar, a non-profit international organization, is funded by philanthropic
organizations and grants. We plan to fundraise and implement the program within
the proposed timeline. In collaboration with the Tanzanian government and the
President’s Office of Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), we
are targeting Primary Health Care facilities. Our expansion will also involve
partnerships with line ministries, health implementing partners, solar energy
companies, and community-based organizations to maximize the program's reach
and impact.
Q: What’s the
long-term maintenance plan for Solar Suitcases? Will healthcare workers be
trained to use and maintain the equipment?
Our training programs build local
capacity by training health workers and local solar technicians on the
installation, operation, and maintenance of Solar Suitcases. This ensures the
devices are used effectively and maintained properly.
Q: Are Solar Suitcases
powerful enough to meet all healthcare facility needs, including refrigeration
for medications and powering complex medical equipment?
Solar Suitcases are designed to
provide power for lighting, communication, and small devices like fetal
dopplers, pulse oximeters, thermometers, and headlamps, which are crucial for
maternal and neonatal care. They are not intended to support power-intensive
equipment like refrigerators or complex medical devices such as x-ray machines.
With this capacity, the system provides adequate power to respond to maternal
and newborn emergencies in last-mile health facilities.
Q: Are Solar Suitcases
built to withstand harsh weather conditions in parts of Tanzania?
Solar Suitcases are robust and
designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. Built for resource-limited
settings, they are housed in weather-resistant cases that protect internal
components from physical damage, dust, and moisture.
Q:
Which parts of Tanzania are you targeting? Are they rural or marginalized
areas?
The
Solar Suitcase program is a national initiative aimed at empowering all health
facilities in need of reliable power. Our primary focus is on rural and
underserved areas where access to electricity is limited or nonexistent. By
targeting these regions, we ensure that healthcare workers have the necessary
tools to provide essential services. Each Solar Suitcase is equipped with
high-efficiency LED lights, rechargeable headlamps, cellphone charging
capabilities, and vital medical equipment like fetal dopplers and infrared
thermometers. This initiative not only improves healthcare delivery but also
fosters community resilience, enabling facilities to operate effectively even
in the most challenging conditions. Together, we are transforming healthcare
access for those who need it most.