A recent WHO/IRENA report states that at least one billion people globally are served by health facilities that lack reliable access to electricity. In our efforts to provide power and clean water for health, we recently installed our new OffGridBox M!NI in 4 health centres in Rugu and Kayanga in Karagwe district, Northwestern Tanzania. Funding was provided by All People Be Happy.
The standard M!Ni has a solar panel of 260W, a lithium battery and 500W inverter, all fitted into one steel box. For the purpose of this project, 3 out of 4 clinics received un upgraded version of the M!NI, with 3 additional solar panels and a 1.2 kW inverter, so more equipment could be powered.
The design of the installation was based on the needs to the existing labor ward, outpatients department block, laboratory and operations theater. Installation was done together with a local technician from the district, who was trained on the job and now knows how to install the OffGridBox M!NI independently! Each unit was tested together with the doctor in charge and then handed over to him to coordinate daily operations. Health centre staff was trained on how to use the system, so they could maintain it, as well as know how to make sure that the solar energy was used properly to power the required loads.
In Kyanga, the CHIARA water units were ultimately installed separately. A new building is being completed, and after this is finished, the ultrafiltration units will be connected to the water piping system to allow the water to be purified on the flow, so patients and staff will have access to safe water! A next step will be to also provide water for a small fee to the surrounding community, which will help to cover maintenance costs. This truly is the most sustainable way to provide safe water and renewable energy to health clinics in Sub-Saharan Africa.
OffGridBox plans to expand these activities further, including with the new energy module, called the FLEX. Get in touch if you want to help provide this vital technology to the thousands of health clinics in Sub-Saharan Africa that shall lack access to energy and safe water.