Chaone Health Center, established in 2016 under the Zomba Diocese and affiliated with CHAM, is located in the rural Chikala Hills of Machinga District, Malawi, about 1,600 meters above sea level. The facility serves more than 6,500 people under Traditional Authority Chamba and provides essential services such as OPD, ART, ANC, maternity care, under-five clinic, and nutrition treatment. A nearby primary school also serves the same community
Project summary
THE NEED
The health center had no reliable electricity and relied on small solar panels that only provided limited lighting. These were not sufficient to power critical equipment such as vaccine refrigerators and oxygen concentrators, making night services and patient monitoring difficult. The nearby primary school also lacked electricity, limiting students’ ability to study after daylight hours.
The solution
To address these challenges, a 5.4 kWp solar power system supported by 15 kWh battery storage was installed at the facility. The system provides a reliable and sustainable energy source to power essential lighting, refrigeration, and critical medical equipment, enabling the health center to operate more effectively and also extend power to the nearby primary school.
Impact
The solar system now enables the health center to deliver healthcare services more reliably, including at night and during emergencies. The primary school also benefits, as students can study at night and early morning, examination classes can stay for short boarding periods, and teachers can charge phones and rechargeable torches, improving the learning environment.Reliable power ensures uninterrupted services across the center and the school, supporting SDGs 3, 4 and 7.