Difference between revisions of "Photovoltaic (PV) for Health Centers - Project Experience"
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#<span style="font-size: 10pt">Solar has facilitated communication and notably work related communication between health workers in far off locations, through the provision of electricity for phone charging, thereby enhancing efficiency of medical service delivery.</span> | #<span style="font-size: 10pt">Solar has facilitated communication and notably work related communication between health workers in far off locations, through the provision of electricity for phone charging, thereby enhancing efficiency of medical service delivery.</span> | ||
− | == Lessons Learned == | + | == Lessons Learned == |
− | <div><span style="font-size: 10pt">To enhance impact, installation of PV systems should <u>prioritize Health Centers that operate at night</u> and/or those with staff quarters, because they are more likely to effectively use systems by opening for night time emergencies. These tend to be bigger and are more expensive to electrify.</span></div><div><u><span style="font-size: 10pt">Solar fridges</span><span style="font-size: 10pt"> should be part of the system package as they increase the impact of solar PV for Health Centres. However, the type of fridges to be installed should be selected carefully. Only durable and easy to repair fridges should be installed (products known on the local market). </span | + | <div><span style="font-size: 10pt">To enhance impact, installation of PV systems should <u>prioritize Health Centers that operate at night</u> and/or those with staff quarters, because they are more likely to effectively use systems by opening for night time emergencies. These tend to be bigger and are more expensive to electrify.</span></div><div><u><span style="font-size: 10pt">Solar fridges</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt"> should be part of the system package as they increase the impact of solar PV for Health Centres. However, the type of fridges to be installed should be selected carefully. Only durable and easy to repair fridges should be installed (products known on the local market). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt">The district as owner of the Health Centres has to <u>budget for operation and maintenance costs</u>. Apart from regular replacement of blown out bulbs, the batteries have to be replaced every 4-7 years (depending on usage). Battery replacement is a major reinvestment that the district has to be prepared for. Awareness and education about battery replacement is a crucial part in electrifying institutions. </span></div><div><u><span style="font-size: 10pt">User training</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt"> has to be conducted thoroughly and in detail. The durability and lifetime of a solar PV system depends heavily on its user. Follow up visits have shown that some systems are overused, esp. in staff quarters. An in-depth user training with appropriate material that can stay with the health centre can help raising awareness about the system’s potential and limits.</span></div><div><u><span style="font-size: 10pt">Staff changes occur rather frequently </span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt">during a solar PV system’s lifetime. It is necessary that the old staff properly initiates his/her successor in the usage of the solar system. Durable awareness/user training material as well as self-explanatory information about the load schedule at a central point can be helpful. </span></div> |
− | <u><span style="font-size: 10pt">Theft of solar system components</span><span style="font-size: 10pt"> (e.g. modules) is a major problem in some areas. Therefore it is necessary to analyze the security situation around the Health Centre during the initial assessment. The modules should preferably be mounted on the roof and protected against theft, e.g. with self-sealing screws. In some cases, the building of a fence or the appointment of additional security personnel might become necessary. The project should advise the Health Centre/district on these issues.</span | + | <u><span style="font-size: 10pt">Theft of solar system components</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt"> (e.g. modules) is a major problem in some areas. Therefore it is necessary to analyze the security situation around the Health Centre during the initial assessment. The modules should preferably be mounted on the roof and protected against theft, e.g. with self-sealing screws. In some cases, the building of a fence or the appointment of additional security personnel might become necessary. The project should advise the Health Centre/district on these issues.</span> |
= GTZ AMES, Ethiopia = | = GTZ AMES, Ethiopia = |
Revision as of 15:06, 24 June 2010
This articles aims at compiling experience from past and ongoing PV programmes for rural health centers. For each project the following issues are covered:
I) Project Approach,
II) Project Outputs & Technical System Details,
III) Evidence for Impacts, and
IV) Lessons Learned.
GTZ-PREEEP, Uganda
Project Approach
- The institution should be located in Northern Uganda or another district where PREEEP is already active
- The institution could be a boarding school, a health centre, a vocational training centre or an orphanage.
- The institution should be located not less than 5 km from the nearest grid and should also not be in an area earmarked for grid extension in the next 10 years. If the grid is nearby and the costs for grid connection are low, PREEEP can also support grid connection.
- The institution should be willing to contribute a percentage of 20% of the overall cost of the proposed system and will be responsible for operation and maintenance.
- GTZ identifies institution /institution applies to GTZ
- Check whether selection criteria are fulfilled
- GTZ conducts survey of electricity requirements; this includes a sketch of the premises with measurements and distances between buildings
- GTZ designs the system and calculates the estimated costs incl. the 20% financial contribution by the institution
- GTZ gets back to the applicant and checks whether the institution is ready / able to pay the contribution and in which time frame (payment in instalments is possible); for public health centres, the partner is the District Health Office
- GTZ and institutions sign MoU that includes the amounts to be contributed by both partners and the payment schedule
- Institution transfers financial contribution to GTZ account
- GTZ launches procurement process
- Local company installs
- GTZ inspects installation
- Monitoring visits / impact assessment
Project Outputs & Technical Details
Total number of electrified institutions since 2006: 73, of which 55 are Health Centres (category II and III, see table below for definition). The remaining institutions are schools (mostly secondary boarding schools), orphanages, vocational institutions and youth centres. In the current programme phase (since June 2008) 32 solar PV systems have been installed in rural health centres.
Health unit
|
Physical structure/ services
|
Beds
|
Location
|
Target population
|
HC I (VHT)
|
None
|
0
|
Village
|
1,000
|
HC II
|
Outpatient services only
|
0
|
Parish
|
5,000
|
HC III
|
Outpatient services, maternity, general ward and laboratory
|
8
|
Sub county
|
20,000
|
HC IV
|
Outpatient services, wards, theatre, laboratory, blood transfusion
|
25
|
County
|
100,000
|
General Hospital
|
Hospital, laboratory, X-ray
|
100
|
District
|
100,000 to 1 million
|
RRH
|
Specialist services
|
250
|
Region (3 – 5 districts)
|
1 - 2 million
|
NRH
|
Advanced tertiary care
|
450
|
National
|
Over 20 million
|
The average cost for equipment and installation rank at 11 EUR per Wattpeak (30,000 Uganda Shillings).
Evidence for Impacts
- The use of solar PV at HCs enhances the delivery of medical services through the provision of quality light for use during treatment of night time emergencies, emergency deliveries and for security purposes at the HC and staff quarters. The solar fridges also facilitate the service of instant immunization of children at HC that previously did not have fridges.
- Whereas Health Centres continue to use traditional sources of energy (kerosene for waste burning and charcoal for sterilisation/cooking), solar electricity reduces expenditures on energy sources for lighting and gas (replaced by solar fridges).
- HC II without staff quarters mainly operate during the day hence under-utilize the installed lighting systems which are only used for security lights.
- Although the availability of solar is not a decisive factor for the deployment of health staff, it is likely to increase motivation and morale of health staff whose living standards are improved by access to cheaper and quality light
- Solar has facilitated communication and notably work related communication between health workers in far off locations, through the provision of electricity for phone charging, thereby enhancing efficiency of medical service delivery.
Lessons Learned
Theft of solar system components (e.g. modules) is a major problem in some areas. Therefore it is necessary to analyze the security situation around the Health Centre during the initial assessment. The modules should preferably be mounted on the roof and protected against theft, e.g. with self-sealing screws. In some cases, the building of a fence or the appointment of additional security personnel might become necessary. The project should advise the Health Centre/district on these issues.