In collaboration with Partners In Health and the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), SunPower Foundation helped bring 1.4 kilowatts of solar power systems to four off-grid health clinics in Lesotho, Africa. While 1.4kW may seem small by North American standards, it is having a big impact in the community.
The new solar systems allow the clinics to reduce their dependency on on-site power generators, lowering operating costs. The older generators require fuel that is both expensive and difficult to obtain and, as a result, they were not used regularly, greatly reducing the clinics’ ability to quickly and effectively serve patients.
The new solar systems are powering lighting as well as satellite communications that enable medical staff to use electronic medical records (EMR) services which are vital to diagnosing and treating diseases, tracking treatment regimes, sharing patient information, and monitoring patient results. Lighting, of course, facilitates nighttime medical procedures, including childbirth and delivery.
The systems are also powering medical equipment such as X-ray machines which, among other uses, are needed to diagnose tuberculosis in HIV-positive individuals, enabling doctors to more effectively fight the further spread of tuberculosis in the community. In Lesotho, where one in every four citizens is infected with HIV/AIDS and/or tuberculosis, expanding treatment of these diseases is a priority of Partners in Health.
SunPower is very proud to be a part of this solar initiative, which supports many of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals.
If you would like to learn more about this project please visit Partners In Health and the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF). For additional information, feel free to ask questions below.
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