Nearly 60 percent of all healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity, and of those that do, only 34 percent of hospitals and 28 percent of health clinics have reliable, 24-hour access. Energy is critical for powering essential devices, medical and sterilization equipment, diagnostics, cold storage for vaccines and medication, information technology, and lights to enable the delivery of continuous health care services. Efficient health services and responses to diseases — including COVID-19 — depend on reliable access to electricity. Also, access to safe water is critically dependent on the availability of power, especially in communities affected by climate change.
After having won a call under the USAID funded Power Africa Health Care Electrification Grant in September 2020, OffGridBox set out to electrify 6 health centres in Rwanda. The clinics concerned were in Kageyo, Buramba, Shaba, Gasovu, Gasagara, and Nyamirama. We calculated the loads needed for each clinic, we carefully prepared the sites, we trained BoxKeepers and health care staff for the daily management of the units, and set up remote monitoring.
In addition, we provided each health center with a vaccine fridge and a steam sterilizer (autoclave), and provided training on how to use these. In several clinics, we also installed a water purification system to provide access to safe water for patients and the surrounding community. We actively engaged with the Rwandan national authorities (Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center), and the relevant District authorities, who were all very helpful to make this project a success.
On 25 March 2021, in the presence of representatives of USAID, the Ministry of Health, the District, and the Health Clinic, we inaugurated the OffGridBox at Gasagara health center, as a way to launch all 6 boxes that we installed since the beginning of the Power Africa funded program. We were very pleased to have Economic Growth Director Amy Beeler and Rwanda Power Africa Lead Claire Nelson present, as well as Vice Mayor Innocent Kayirang from Muhanga District.
As part of our approach, we distributed close to 500 family kits (a rechargeable power bank, 3 led lights and a phone charger) among households in the surrounding community, primarily at Nyamirama and Kageyo. We also set up productive use activities around welding and phone charging. All these activities are meant to generate revenues that can be used to cover part of the operations and maintenance costs of the boxes installed.
About OffGridBox
OffGridBox is an all-in-one sustainable solution providing clean water and solar power to people in remote areas. OffGridBox is the brainchild of founders Emiliano Cecchini and Davide Bonsignore from 2014. They became inspired to create more efficient technical solutions after working on several OXFAM clean energy projects in South Africa that took more than 3 weeks to install. Since then, the founders produced about 80 boxes deployed in a dozen countries, serving thousands of people in difficult circumstances. Projects range from disaster relief to rural electrification. OffGridBox is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the company’s mission is to provide affordable clean water and electricity in remote areas. For more information about OffGridBox, please visit https://www.offgridbox.com