Tender Medical Clinic Latest To Benefit rom Solar Power Installation, Commend RREA For The Initiative
By Alfred Kollie alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The proprietress of Tender Medical Clinic located on the Robert International Airport Highway, Madam Jartu K. Gbormoi has expressed appreciation to the Rural Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) and donors for the successful installation of solar power at her healthcare facility.
The initiative is part of a project aimed at improving healthcare services in both rural and urban off-grid areas across Liberia and it is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the RREA. Itt aims to reduce operational costs and enhance the quality of healthcare services offered to local communities.
Madam Gbormoi emphasized the positive impact of the solar power installation, particularly in reducing the clinic’s fuel expenses that were previously required to run its generator.
With the introduction of solar power, the clinic is now able to provide round-the-clock services to patients and the public, marking a significant improvement in their operations.
The local healthcare official described this development as a true blessing for the clinic and its staff including the community in general.
During a visit by officials from the RREA to the healthcare facility on the RIA Highway Wednesday July 3, 2024, Madam Gbormoi took the opportunity to request additional batteries to enable them increase their clinic capacity.
“This would allow the clinic to incorporate essential appliances such as air conditioning, as well as a freezer for storing vaccines.”
She recalled the challenges faced in the past, when the clinic heavily relied on a generator and community current, leading to frequent power outages that affected the clinic’s operations and resulted in a reduction of staff at the facility.
The installation of solar power has proven to be a game-changer for Tender Medical Clinic.
It has allowed them to expand their staff base, hiring additional professionals to provide 24-hour services to their patients.
Madam Gbormoi expressed her gratitude for the economic benefits brought by solar power and expressed her hope that the initiative would continue and extend to other healthcare facilities in the area.
She also requested an increase in the clinic’s battery capacity to further improve their services.
The successful implementation of the solar power project at Tender Medical Clinic serves as a promising example of how renewable energy can positively impact healthcare facilities in Liberia.
With reduced operational costs and reliable power supply, the clinic can now provide enhanced services to its patients.
This project highlights the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services in remote areas and the significant role that renewable energy plays in achieving this goal.
In an effort to improve healthcare services in rural off-grid areas, the Government of Liberia has launched a project to electrify health facilities across the country.
The goal of the project, known as the Health Facility Electrification component of the Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP), is to ensure that healthcare centers in rural areas have access to reliable electricity.
This will help reduce operational costs and enhance the quality of healthcare services provided to local communities.
The project is expected to be completed by June 2026, with the solar equipment installed having a lifespan of 5+20 years.
World Bank’s funding of renewal energy projects
World Bank has allocated a total budget of USD190 million for the initiative.
During the first phase of the project, which will span from 2021 to 2026, the focus will be on rehabilitating and expanding electricity infrastructure in rural off-grid areas which includes the electrification of health facilities and households.
Approximately 90 operational health facilities, including rural hospitals, health centers, and primary health centers, will be equipped with off-grid solar systems.
These modular and scalable systems will consist of photovoltaic (PV) systems with li-ion batteries. They will also have the capability to integrate with existing diesel generators for backup power.
To ensure efficient operation and maintenance, the solar systems will be equipped with remote and local monitoring systems.
The project will be implemented in two phases or lots. Lot 1 will cover 49 health centers with a solar PV array capacity of 296kWp, while Lot 2 will cover 39 health centers with a solar PV array capacity of 189kWp.
The capacity of the PV systems will be tailored to meet the specific energy demands of each health facility” the Release noted.
Improving access to reliable energy is crucial to achieving universal health coverage in Liberia, especially in rural areas that currently face a lack of power supply.
Inadequate electricity has led to medical device failures, limited service offerings, and inadequate storage conditions for vaccines and medicines that require cold chain storage.
75% of health facilities to be electrified by Solar by December 2024
By replacing diesel generators with solar systems, the project aims to ensure a consistent energy supply for all healthcare needs. It will also provide valuable data and establish business cases for low carbon and climate-resilient health facility infrastructure, which can attract future investment.
The electrification of health facilities is already underway, with Lot 1 in the Eastern and South-Eastern regions of Liberia currently in the inception phase.
Technical designs have been completed, and equipment supply is ongoing. Lot 2, covering health facilities in the Northern, Central, and Western regions, is also in the inception phase. Sample system installations are expected to be completed by late May 2024.
The project aims to electrify over 75% of health facilities by December 2024.