Chiringa Health Centre, located in the remote area of Phalombe District in southern Malawi, faced severe challenges due to unreliable power from the national grid and the impact of Cyclone Freddy in 2023, which left the facility without electricity for three months. The installation of a solar system has transformed the health center, ensuring reliable power for medical care, improved hygiene, and better overall services for the patients.
Project summary
The need
Chiringa Health Center's operations were severely disrupted by unreliable electricity and the Cyclone Freddy, which left the facility without power for three months. Women in maternity had to bring their own water, candles, or torches for night deliveries. The pharmacy could not maintain the necessary cold-chain for medicine storage, and overall hygiene was compromised, making it difficult to handle cholera cases and other illnesses.
The solution
The intervention involved installing an 8.1 kWp solar system and a 15 kWh battery, providing a stable power supply for day and night. This system supports medicine and vaccine storage, lighting, electrical appliances for better medical care, and the electric water pump, which enables hygiene at the center.
Impact
Since the inception of the solar power project, the health center has seen real improvements. Reliable electricity has enhanced medical care, ensuring that over 1,000 patients receive better services. The maternity ward is now fully functional with proper lighting and water supply, the pharmacy can maintain optimal temperatures for medication, and the overall hygiene at the center has drastically improved. The project contributes to the SDGs 3, 6 and 7.
Impact story
Solar brings joy and change at Chiringa Health Centre
“Our heartfelt thanks go to Sopowerful Foundation for this transformative support. We used to have frequent blackouts that was disrupting essential services, forcing maternity operations to be conducted under candle lights or torches, and critical areas like the labour ward and OPD were often compromised. The administrative office also struggled without power, affecting timely report production. Now, continuous power supply…”