Health Centers

 

Our health center projects

The Gamo Gofa Zone in the south of Ethiopia is characterized by a very mountainous landscape, so that many villages are allocated in the mountains and are far away from the next bigger cities or streets. Therefore, these villages will probably not be connected to the national power grid in the future.

The first installations of off-grid solar systems for health stations were three 3.5kWp systems in the villages of Danbile, Zigite (both in 2013) and Shecha/Arba Minch (2014). Due to the positive response of all participants, especially the users of the health stations, the government of the Gamo Gofa Zone agreed to actively participate in the electrification of all 50 rural health stations within the Gamo Gofa Zone and asked Sahay Solar for support with this project.

Including the regular practical training of solar specialists for the installation and maintenance of the solar systems, a cooperation for the solar electrification of all 50 health stations was signed by all three partners (the government, the Arba Minch University and Sahay Solar) at the end of 2015. On its own initiative, the local government is providing 30% and the Arba Minch University (AMU) has agreed to provide 10% of the total budget for this cooperation to a project account that was specifically established for this purpose. The remaining 60% of the total costs will be covered by Sahay Solar. All costs that occur in Ethiopia can be covered by the local partners so that Sahay Solar primarily finances the solar systems and other technical material and the costs for travel and lecturers.

Information paper

Health Centers – Basic Care for the Rural Population

In the Gamo Gofa region, health centers represent the only available health care for the rural population. One center usually covers several communities and provides basic medical care for about 20,000-30,000 people. However, the lack of access to electricity is an essential obstacle to health care. Many women and children die during the birth process because the births take place in darkness and under bad external conditions. In addition to light for the operation from 6 p.m. onwards, a regulated power supply can make

  • the refrigerated storage of medical instruments and vaccines
  • microscopic examinations in the laboratory
  • the hygienic cleaning of medical instruments using a sterilizer
  • the computer-based documentation and administration of patients

possible.

These circumstances lead to an improvement of the working conditions for skilled personnel and to a significant improvement in medical care for the rural population and thus also contribute to reducing rural depopulation.

 

Overview – All Installations

2013
Danbile Health Station

Installation of an off-grid 3.6kWp solar system in the Danbile health center, right next to the primary school which was electrified in 2011. Approximately 12,000 people from the surrounding area benefit directly from the significantly improved working conditions of the clinic due to the electricity supply, including, for example, nocturnal births in bright light instead of candlelight, the use of refrigerators to store vaccinations, medicine or blood preserves, as well as better hygienic conditions due to the heating of water, etc.

2014
Zigite Health Station

Installation of a off-grid 4kWp solar system in the Zigite Bakole health center. It supplies approx. 30,000 people from the surrounding area. The advantages of electrification, as with all other health centers, include nocturnal births in bright light instead of candlelight, the use of refrigerators to store vaccinations, medicine or blood, as well as better hygienic conditions due to the heating of water, etc. The center is also equipped with a refrigerator.

2014
Shecha Health Station

Shecha is a district of Arba Minch. This health center is connected to the national power grid, which does not offer any security of supply due to very regular, sometimes daily failures. Therefore a 1kWp solar system was installed as a back-up system to ensure a permanent supply of electricity to the clinic for about 30,000 of the more than 120,000 inhabitants of Arba Minch.

2015
Bola Anko Health Station

Supply of the medical station in Bola Anko with a 4kW solar system by our local AMU-Sahay team in April of the year.

2015
Zeyise Danbile Health Station

The health center in Zeyise Danbile marks the start of the pilot phase of our Gamo Gofa government supported “50 health centers” project. The health station has a catchment area of 12,000 people and was equipped with a 5kW solar system.

2016
Completion of pilot phase
2016
Completion Phase 1: 15/50
2018
29 Health Centers supplied

The Health-Care Projects in the Gamo Gofa Zone