We Care Solar - A2E Fund

Project: Light Every Birth Nigeria: Energizing Maternal and Child Health Care

Country and region/location: Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory

Category: Energy and Health

Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, accounting for 28.5% of all global maternal deaths (WHO, 2023). A study on global health access and quality ranked Nigeria 142nd out of 195 countries (Lancet, 2018). Primary Health Centers provide healthcare for 70-80% of Nigerians; however, only 6,000 of the more than 30,000 PHCs in Nigeria are fully functional (USAID, IHP). The lack of reliable energy is a major contributor to the bleak health statistics in Nigeria. Without continuous electricity, healthcare professionals cannot effectively perform procedures, administer intravenous medications, or leverage other investments in maternal and child health. Healthcare professionals describe their inability to monitor and treat complications and the hazards of working without good visibility, including contamination and injuries. Traditional sources of light and energy from fossil fuels in rural facilities—candles, kerosene lanterns, diesel generators—provide inadequate lighting and are unsustainable.

We Care Solar believes that no woman should die while giving birth. Access to quality healthcare, gender equity, and a clean, healthy environment are human rights. We Care Solar addresses unequal healthcare access by tackling the technological, infrastructure, logistical, and systemic challenges of delivering high-quality solar equipment to needy health facilities. By expanding the We Care Solar Light Every Birth Nigeria program to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), they will install 100 robust, off-grid, and immediately operational Solar Suitcases in energy-deficient health centers. These suitcases will provide reliable power for medical lighting, emergency communication, and small medical devices, ensuring that all mothers in the state can access a well-lit health center for safe delivery.

This project will bring access to clean and renewable energy and create a conducive environment for under-resourced health centers, facilitating emergency care and improving delivery outcomes for mothers and newborns. Midwives and doctors in facilities without reliable electricity will obtain "the power to save lives," providing families with improved access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care 24 hours a day at their local health facility. Installing Solar Suitcases in 100 facilities will deliver enhanced obstetric care to approximately 43,600 mothers and babies annually. Additionally, Solar Suitcases allow healthcare professionals to offer a variety of other services, such as accident care, treatment of pediatric pneumonia, wound care, etc.

Expected outcomes:

• 100 robust, off-grid, and immediately operational Solar Suitcases installed in energy-deficient health centers
• 100 delivery rooms and operating theatres in public health facilities providing maternal and child services, equipped with reliable lighting and essential equipment
• 43,600 mothers and babies/year receiving quality delivery services, with the expectation to reach 436,000 in 10 years
• 2 mixed teams (one led by a woman) with 4 certified solar technicians in each team to carry out Solar Suitcase installations, increasing local capacity and promoting women's empowerment through local employment in the solar sector
• 400 healthcare professionals trained in the use of the equipment, increasing local capacity
• Improved access to clean, renewable, and reliable energy in health facilities
• Greater understanding of the energy needs of health facilities
• Long-term enhanced obstetric care