CASE STUDY 6
Solar-Powered Climate-Resilient Maternal Healthcare
Sierra Leone
Tanzania
Liberia
Uganda
Malawi
Zimbabwe
Nigeria
Context
Climate disasters can cripple existing infrastructure. When a climate disaster happens, the electrical power supply system is often one of the first services to collapse, yet reliable electricity is crucial for effective post-disaster relief and continuity of services. The typical alternative once the electrical power supply shuts down is generators. However, in addition to being a source of pollution, they are often rendered useless due to fuel shortages in disaster zones, leaving communities without a sustainable power supply when they need it most. Emergency responders and health workers during and after climate disasters also need electricity for task lighting, mobile communication, and other electronic and medical devices.
Organization
We Care Solar, founded in 2010, runs the Light Every Birth project, which is targeted at ensuring that every mother has the right to safe childbirth in a clean, well-lit facility.
Innovation
Light Every Birth partners with government agencies, development partners, and implementing organizations to advocate for clean energy solutions to strengthen maternal care. They equip health facilities with Solar Suitcases and train health workers to use their technology. Solar Suitcase® is a robust, easy-to-use solar electric system that provides last-mile health facilities with highly efficient medical lighting and power for mobile communication and small medical devices. We Care Solar has been training local technicians on these solar systems in every country where they operate.
Results to Date
Since its inception in 2010, 9,271 health centers have been equipped with Solar Suitcases, resulting in:
116,768,994 mothers and newborns served in health centers using Solar Suitcases
39,028 health facility staff trained
Across all seven active countries, Light Every Birth has reported a 5-30% increase since inception in 2010 in the number of deliveries and antenatal care visits after Solar Suitcase installation.
119,522 estimated tons of CO2 have been averted.
Sources: We Care Solar (2024). Our Impact. Accessed at: https://wecaresolar.org/our-impact/impact-overview/
PDF Innovative Approaches to Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Sexual & Reproductive Health: Case Studies from Around the World