Beyond the challenges of lack of quality medical equipment and poor staffing, one key issue that has impeded the optimal performance of Primary Healthcare facilities in Low and Medium Income Countries (LMIC) is poor access to adequate power supply. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), close to One Billion globally are served by health-care facilities with unreliable electricity supply or with no electricity access at all.
This worrisome statistics no doubt has a significant impact on public health delivery especially in primary health care facilities and cottage hospitals in remote areas. Amongst other impacts, poor power access would affect vaccine potency, Blood bank storage, operation of medical equipment, and adequate lighting for essential procedures. This can hinder efforts to immunise populations, diagnose illnesses, and respond effectively to medical emergencies.
However, the benefits of sustainable renewable energy in healthcare delivery far outweighs its potential risk. Access to sustainable power supply via Clean energy creates an enabling environment for inclusive, impactful, and accelerated electrification and a climate-friendly health sector. Achieving clean energy, especially in the health sector, will go some miles in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG7); ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Beyond this, accessibility to better healthcare service as a result will also help to prevent needless suffering from preventable diseases and premature death by focusing on key targets that boost the health of a country’s overall population. This is also in line with the SDG 3; healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
In this vein, the 19th episode of the Insights Webinar will discuss integrating Renewable Energy Solutions for Primary Healthcare Facilities. Insights webinar is a Public Health webinar series hosted by eHealth Africa. The webinar series enables insightful conversation with public health professionals to establish eHealth Africa as a thought leader in the Public Health space, create visibility for the organisation, and create new business opportunities for the organisation within the public health space.
We look forward to your contributions in what will be another impactful episode of Insights Webinar!
Register HERE