clipped from www.wecaresolar.comWE CARE Solar promotes safe motherhood and reduces maternal mortality in developing regions by providing health workers with reliable lighting, mobile communication, and blood bank refrigeration using solar electricity.
Maternal mortality worldwide accounts for more than half a million deaths a year; 99 percent of these occur in underdeveloped countries. For every maternal death, at least 20 women suffer severe complications from childbirth.
Maternal mortality rates in Nigeria are among the highest in the world, with a ratio of 1100 maternal deaths occurring for every 100,000 live births. Nigeria is the site of our first installations. Rural women in Northern Nigeria, most of whom do not receive prenatal care and deliver at home, are estimated to have a lifetime risk of maternal death from childbirth of 1 in 13. Major causes of maternal death include obstetric hemorrhage (massive bleeding from childbirth), obstructive labor (labor where the mother is unable to deliver the baby), eclampsia (life threatening seizures related to high blood pressure), and sepsis (widespread infection). These emergencies cannot always be predicted, nor are they always preventable. However, with prompt, appropriate and reliable medical care, they are unlikely to result in loss of life.
Sporadic electricity impairs the operation of surgical wards, delivery wards, essential hospital equipment, and hospital communications. This compromises the ability of Nigerian health workers to provide safe, appropriate and timely medical care. Labor and delivery nurses cannot quickly notify on-call physicians of emergencies. Midwives and physicians are forced to make treatment decisions without the benefit of necessary diagnostic tests. Obstetric procedures and emergency surgeries are conducted under grossly suboptimal conditions, and can have tragic consequences. The kerosene lantern on our home page was taken in the maternity ward of one hospital - this was the only light available in the ward!
Solutions
We originally designed a photovoltaic system to power lighting, medical equipment, a blood bank refrigerator, and communication equipment in a major municipal hospital in Northern Nigeria. We installed this system in early 2009.
Our emergency obstetric photovoltaic system powers the following:
- Overhead surgical lighting in areas of critical need such as the operating room and labor and delivery
- Mobile telecommunications between hospital staff and on-call physicians
- Existing on-site surgical equipment that is currently underutilized
- A blood bank refrigerator that utilizes DC electicity
- Battery chargers that power LED headlamps for night duty workers
Solar Suitcase
We also designed a portable solar electric system that fits in a suitcase. The "solar suitcase" powers two overhead LED lighting, charges walkie-talkies and cell phones, and includes LED headlamps that come with their own rechargeable batteries. The first deployment of these systems occurred in June 2009. Now these systems have been introduced in nine countries. Most recently, we were asked to send solar suitcases to Haiti, where they are being used by medical relief teams and maternity clinics.
These systems are designed to be user-friendly, robust, durable, and nearly maintenance-free. They can be reproduced and easily installed in existing hospitals and clinics that have unreliable/problematic power systems. Improved surgical lighting, enhanced usage of existing medical equipment, and the establishment of a sustainable telecommunication system is being shown to reduce delays in providing care, and to increase the capacity of health workers to care for patients with obstetric complications. In addition, workers report more confidence in performing skilled care, and no longer fear night duty.
Seed Funding
WE CARE Solar received seed funding and support from the Blum Center for Developing Economies, UC Berkeley Big Ideas, and the Bixby Center for Population, Health and Sustainability.
We're Growing
We receive ongoing requests for our solar suitcase systems and for consultation on solar electrification of health care facilities around the world. Our organization relies on the generous support of individuals and organizations wanting to make a difference. Of course, our efforts takes time, money, infrastructure and lots of hard work. We're trying to build our capacity to respond to the widespread interest in our mission, and seek donations for this purpose.
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