Through funding from FCDO, the Ministry of Health has now completed the electrification of six hospitals using renewable energy Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems with batteries. The six hospitals include Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), Ola During Children’s Hospital (ODCH), Bonthe Government Hospital, Kambia Government Hospital, Kabala Government Hospital and Masanga Hospital.
The Electricity Sector in Sierra Leone faces many challenges. The country’s power sector has a capacity of about 100 MW, whereas it requires 500 MW of interrupted power to its citizens. The deficit is why only 26.7 % of the total population currently has access to electricity.
Electricity costs in Sierra Leone are among the highest in Africa. This inevitably affects the health sector. Recent health surveys have estimated that approximately 38% of health facilities have no electricity source (SDI, 2018). Hospitals and healthcare facilities require a reliable electricity supply to keep equipment running, store supplies safely, carry out procedures, and handle emergency cases at night.
This situation makes it impossible for hospitals to function optimally, putting the population at risk. This has been one of the contributing factors to the poor maternal and infant mortality rates in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone has significantly reduced maternal mortality from 717 per 100,000 to 443 per 100,000. The Ministry of Health, under the leadership of Dr. Austin Demby, aims to reduce these figures to under 300 per 100,000 by 2025 and to under 70 per 100,000 by 2030. It is a considerable challenge, but the Minister and his team are ambitious and determined to make this happen.
The Ministry wants to address this challenge by investing more in renewable energy at healthcare facilities. The Government of Sierra Leone has accelerated reforms in the energy sector through programs such as the Rural Renewable Energy Project. Various projects and partners, such as the World Bank, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, FCDO, etc have complemented these efforts.
“They have been tested, and they are up and running. We have just got additional funding to solarize 11 more secondary hospitals,” says Maurice Ferenkeh Koroma, Health Facility Electrification Project Lead and Special Adviser to the Minister of Health on Programme Quality.
After completing the hospital in Kambia, the Matron, Sai Sama Conteh, could barely hold back her excitement. “I feel so elated about this solar installation, especially now that we can use the facility,” she pointed out.
The Medical Superintendent of Kabala Government Hospital, Dr. Alie Dauda Tarawalie, expressed similar sentiments and now describes his hospital as the city of light.
“I am the most excited person on earth. Seventy to eighty percent of my worries were electricity. Even without work, sometimes at night, I will be around seeing the light. I feel good, and it is like a dream, you know,” Dr. Tarawalie said.
President Bio and the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, have a vision. Their vision is to light up all healthcare facilities in the not-too-distant future. Minister Demby said the current energy situation of most healthcare facilities presents many maintenance and running cost challenges.
He said, “We have a system where you rely on the power grid. At times, it comes on; at times, it doesn’t. You rely on backup generators that are very expensive to run, and in some cases, they cost nearly 20% of the hospital budget. That’s not sustainable,” Dr. Demby points out.
These generators emit toxic gases in the air and often make very loud noises, disturbing the peace and tranquillity patients require. This makes them unfit for purpose in an era of global climate crisis. The Ministry of Health has committed to going green in the health sector.
“Going green means we want to ensure that health facilities, from hospitals to primary healthcare units, have renewable, reproducible, and efficient energy,” Dr. Demby said.
According to Maurice Ferenkeh Koroma, most facilities, particularly those in rural areas and last-mile communities, don’t have access to electricity. Those in the urban areas are mainly those closer to the national grid, and even that is irregular,” he explains. This inconsistent energy supply to healthcare facilities affects quality service delivery and health outcomes.
Dr. Austin Demby said this new solution will significantly improve health outcomes. “It will reduce maternal mortality and improve infant survival, and it is the right contribution to what we want to see in Sierra Leone.”
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