Health facilities need reliable electricity around the clock to treat patients and save lives. But across Sub-Saharan Africa, a staggering 25,000 healthcare facilities lack access to electricity entirely, while around 70,000 health centres have an unreliable electrical supply.
Just in Sierra Leone, it is estimated that more than 1,000 health facilities need either a complete power solution or a back-up solution. SEforALL conducted detailed energy audits at major hospitals in Sierra Leone to identify opportunities to replace unreliable, polluting diesel generator capacity with renewable energy solutions that can deliver reliable, clean power.
Based on these findings, we implemented the Sierra Leone Healthcare Electrification Project, which has already installed solar PV and battery systems at six key hospitals in Freetown (Ola During Children''s Hospital and Princess Christian Maternity Hospital), Kambia, Masanga, Kabala and Bonthe, with a combined total of more than 0.6 megawatt-peak (MWp) of installed power capacity.
With the initial six installations complete, we are now working with our partners to deploy similar solar PV and battery systems at one other hospital in Kailahun, and 25 community health centres throughout Sierra Leone.
The project is UK funded and is being implemented in close coordination with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS). SEforALL has hired Crown Agents (project management) and EM-One Solutions (EPC contractor) to carry out key aspects of the project.
The project showcases how hospitals can be equipped with renewable and reliable energy solutions in an accelerated timeframe, bringing significant benefits to the delivery of health services and thereby leading to positive impact on health outcomes.
The significant reduction in diesel generator usage has led to a large reduction in greenhouse gas and particulate emissions from diesel generators that previously powered the health facilities, either as a back-up (for on-grid hospitals) or as a primary power source (for off-grid hospitals).
The six hospitals already powered are currently being remotely monitored, and power systems are being maintained regularly to ensure optimal performance, while the project partners are evaluating different longer-term models to ensure sustainability and performance.
Last week marked the successful commissioning of a transformational project in Sierra Leone that has electrified six key hospitals with decentralized solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and batteries.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation celebrated this milestone at Ola During Children''s Hospital in Freetown, one of the six electrified hospitals, along with Ms. Kate Foster, UK Africa Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK Government, and Ms. Lisa Chesney, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
The new energy systems provide a combined installed capacity of nearly 0.6 megawatt-peak (MWp) to the six hospitals. They were designed taking into account the current and future energy needs of the health facilities. In most cases, they have replaced unreliable and polluting diesel generators, providing a more consistent supply of dependable and clean power for the critical infrastructure used by doctors and nurses to treat patients.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin H. Demby said, "[These hospitals] have gone through a transition that will forever change the way healthcare is delivered in the country. Before this time, they relied on the national grid and backup generators, which were very expensive to run and, in some cases, cost 20% of the budget of the hospitals, which is not sustainable. The health sector will work assiduously to go green".
The project has been funded by the UK and implemented by Sustainable Energy for All in partnership with Crown Agents and EM-ONE Energy Solutions. The overall goal is to enable improved delivery of healthcare, especially maternal and child health services, in unelectrified or poorly electrified facilities, through improved access to modern, affordable, and sustainable electricity services.
In March 2023, SEforALL published a Market Assessment and Roadmap for Health Facilities in Sierra Leone, which revealed that 38 percent of health facilities lack reliable access to energy. Detailed energy audits of major hospitals were also conducted, following which 6 of them, located in Freetown, Kambia, Masanga, Kabala and Bonthe, were selected for electrification.
Dr. Ayeshatu Mustapha, the Medical Superintendent at Ola During hospital, heartily welcomes the intervention. "The electrical and solar installation for the hospital is life changing. 70 to 80 babies and children are receiving critical care every day, which needs reliable and sustainable energy. The medical equipment will last longer, and there is economic benefit to the hospital as the funds can now be directed to other necessary equipment", he said.
To ensure that the energy systems and the associated benefits of the project are sustained in the long run, the project partners are developing a model for longer-term operations and maintenance (O&M) and training hospital staff to be involved in this effort, as well as creating a framework to monitor and evaluate the health and environmental impacts over time.
"Such a comprehensive model for health facility electrification beyond this current project is another major outcome of this work. We are already beginning to see results on the ground, with healthcare workers able to offer medical services late into the night and operate equipment which requires a steady power connection. This project is going to impact thousands of lives", said Madhusagar Singh, Project Manager (Powering Healthcare Project), Sierra Leone, SEforALL.
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