By: Mohamed Sahrmohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
Improving the quality of the healthcare system nationwide, the Ministry of Health has officially unveiled the Ola During Children’s Hospital solar energy grid in an effort to harness reliable and uninterrupted renewable energy systems on Thursday in Freetown.
Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, mentioned that with the support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the project would serve as an alternative means to the inconsistent power supply, especially in healthcare facilities across the country. Providing twenty-four hours of solar energy would not only save lives but also boost the healthcare systems, aligning with the commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on traditional energy sources, Dr. Demby stated.
With funds from the FCDO, the Ministry has secured the means to extend this transformative initiative to eleven more hospitals in Sierra Leone, furthering the vision of ensuring the country has reliable and sustainable healthcare services for every citizen.
Expressing gratitude to FCDO, Crown Agents, SEforAll, and other partners for their unparalleled support, Minister Demby emphasized the completion of the solarization project as a significant step towards improving quality healthcare.
Kate Foster, Director of the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office for West and Southern Africa, highlighted the Ministry of Health’s recent efforts to minimize child and maternal mortality by providing reliable power to hospitals. She noted that consistent power supply, especially solar energy, would facilitate the smooth work of healthcare professionals and contribute to an equitable healthcare access, even in remote areas.
Foster applauded the staff of Ola During Children’s Hospital for their unwavering commitment and support to healthcare services.
Esther Ade-Williams, Team Lead in the Powering Health Care Project of Crown Agents, reported the successful implementation of the solarization of six hospitals in the country. These include Ola During, Princess Christian Hospital, Bonthe Government Hospital, Kambia Government Hospital, Kabala Government Hospital, and Masanga Hospital, transforming the delivery of quality healthcare.
She added that the initiative aligns with three sustainable development goals, addressing the need for affordable and clean energy, leading to increased services, good health, wellbeing, and reduced carbon emissions.
Madhusagar Singh, Project Manager of SEforAll, stated that the objective of the project is to streamline the electrification of six different healthcare facilities, focusing on providing good healthcare services for children and mothers. He revealed that Ola During Children’s Hospital serves as the flagship for the solar energy grid project unveiled by the Minister of Health. Singh emphasized that the project would be a continuous and extendable process with a full-fledged solar energy capacity, predominantly addressing unreliable energy systems.
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