San Francisco Fundraiser Helps Installation of Hybrid Solar Energy System

taasahealthFundraisers, New Equipment

A technician installing fixtures, switches, a fuse box, and transformers at the clinic. January 2020.

In Uganda, over 70% of health care facilities have inadequate access to power sources.[1] Without energy, healthcare clinics face a number of obstacles to providing quality care, from limiting their services during the hours of the night to lacking the capacity to safely store vaccinations.[2] It is estimated that nearly 50% of vaccines are deemed ineffective or expired every year, due to preventable temperature control and logistics issues.[3]

The issues faced by healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa are not unfamiliar to the Taasa Health Clinic. Without electrical connectivity, Taasa is unable to safely refrigerate essential immunizations used to treat life-threatening viruses and disease. In order to meet the needs of the community members, the Taasa clinicians travel to urban areas to pick up stocks of government-funded vaccines, transporting them on ice and administering each before expiration. Not only does lacking a power source hinder Taasa’s ability to provide a range of services, it also limits the hours where care can be provided. The clinicians are often unable to assist with medical emergencies and child deliveries that occur during the nighttime.

With the goal of reducing the Clinic’s carbon footprint, Taasa has prioritized sustainable and environmentally sound development projects. To this end, Taasa has chosen to allocate all contributions from the San Francisco fundraiser to the installation of a hybrid solar energy system. The energy system will allow the Clinic to safely store vaccines and to harness power during the day, which can be reserved for when it is needed at night.

With the pooled contributions of Taasa’s generous supporters, the Clinic has broken ground on the electrical installation project. As of January 2020, technicians have visited the clinic to install light fixtures, switches, a fuse box, and transformers. The Clinic is currently awaiting an evaluation and estimation from the hybrid solar system manager before next installation steps commence.

Without the support of those who attended the San Francisco fundraising event and contributed to this project, the Clinic would continue to lack the ability to provide quality care to our community members around the clock. Please visit our photo gallery to view photos from the event, kindly taken by Tobi Coker.

Sources:
[1] World Economic Forum. 2018.
[2] World Economic Forum. 2018
[3] World Health Organization. 2018.

Pictured above: Technicians installing fixtures, switches, a fuse box, and transformers at the clinic. January 2020.

Solar installation. January 2020.