Power Africa has announced the disbursement of US$2.6M in grants to solar companies to provide off-grid electricity to 288 healthcare facilities across sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the World Bank Report Electricity Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Uptake, Reliability and Complementary Factors for Economic impact, almost 60% of healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity. Of those that do, only 34% of hospitals and 28% of health clinics have reliable, 24-hour access.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has so painfully highlighted, efficient health services and responses to diseases depend heavily on access to reliable electricity. Energy is critical to power essential devices, medical and sterilisation equipment, diagnostic equipment, cold storage for vaccines and medication, information technology and at its most basic, lights to enable delivery of continuous health care services.
Also read: South Africa: Bokamoso Solar plant commences commercial operations
Source: EsiAfrica via CrudeMix Africa
