WE CARE Solar

WE CARE Solar team member Melissa Ho has been working on health care telecommunications in Uganda this year. She will be field testing a solar suitcase in one of the health care facilities in Southwest Uganda. When we learned that our colleague in San Francisco was heading out to Uganda this weekend, co-founder Hal Aronson quickly assembled a solar-powered lighting and charging station for Melissa to bring to the health facility. On the way, we'll be introducing the solar electric system to UNICEF staff in Uganda who asked to try out the suitcase for themselves.

We’re eager to improve the design of our most popular item – the solar suitcase. We have receive requests for solar electrification from clinics all over the world – from Borneo to the Amazon to the Congo, and have been invited to participate in a wide range of health care projects. Clearly, the prospect of reliable light and communication has struck an important nerve for health providers around the globe.

When California high school teacher, Tim McDougal, attended Laura Stachel's presentation on WE CARE Solar at the 2009 Solar Schoolhouse Summer Institute, he was spurred into action. “I watched the video about WE CARE Solar and got chocked up,” he recounted. “The reality of the situation in Nigeria hit me squarely.” At first, Tim thought “good for her, using her knowledge to help,” but by the end of the presentation he began to imagine how his own personal experience and education could enable him to get involved.

Plugged In, the Boston-based non-profit teen band program, held a successful live benefit concert for WE CARE Solar on August 8th. Eight youth bands rocked the night away to raise funds for safe motherhood, as a slide show of Nigerian children and street life ran continuously on the side. I gave a presentation on maternal health care in Nigeria, informing teens and their parents about the challenges facing poor Nigerian rural families in urgent need of health care.

Teens across the country are combining their skills to save mothers and babies in Africa. The innovative Boston teen band organization "Plugged In" has chosen to hold a rock concert to benefit WE CARE Solar. One young musician, Mitchell Therieau, heard the NHPR radio interview about our work (visit www.nhpr.org/node/25951) and successfully pitched our cause to members of eight youth bands performing with Plugged In this summer .

One of the most amazing things about being a part of WE CARE Solar is that it has brought together a wonderful array of people. Initially, WE CARE Solar consisted of a small group of graduate students and professors who believed that it was possible to use solar technology to enhance childbirth on the other side of the world.

I arrived back in Zaria on Thursday after a demanding set of flights, and a very long car ride. I made my way to Kofan Gayan hospital and was pleased to see that the lights and blood bank refrigerator were working. The staff recounted various ways in which the system had improved care...

I spoke by phone today to one of the midwives at Kofan Gayan hospital. The solar electric system was installed three weeks ago, and I wanted to know whether the lighting and communication upgrades had made a difference in care. Maimuna was excited. "There are many improvements," she told me. "There are no delays in doing c/sections. No one is being turned away from the hospital. There were eight deliveries last night. And there are no more secrets. This is a great improvement"

The WE CARE pilot solar installation ended on an extremely high note.

The project achieved the following:

· Four sets of solar panels were mounted,

· Seventeen overhead lights were permanently placed, covering llighting needs for the operating theatre, delivery room, maternity ward and eclampsia ward,

· LED headlamps were distributed to night duty clinical staff on every ward, and to pharmacy and laboratory night duty staff members,

The maternity ward and labor room now have fluorescent and LED lights, and not a moment too soon. Last night the generator for the hospital ran out of fuel while a midwife was doing an surgical repair on a 13 year old. The room went so black that I couldn't reach the other side of the room without bumping into something. I saw the tiny glow of the red and greens LED light on the charge controller (part of the equipment for the solar electric system), and felt along the wall for the light switch. In another moment the room again had light and this poor girl could have her care completed.