Zimbabwe Expands Solar Power in Healthcare Facilities, Improving Patient Care and Reducing Costs
Zimbabwe is significantly expanding its solar-for-health program, with over 1,263 health facilities and medical warehouses now equipped with solar energy systems. This initiative, a partnership between the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), the Global Fund, and the Zimbabwean government, began in 2015 to combat severe power cuts that previously affected healthcare operations. The program ensures critical medicines requiring refrigeration remain viable, powers maternity wards, vaccine cold chains, and emergency operating rooms during blackouts. For instance, Budiriro Polyclinic, an early beneficiary, no longer faces risks of medicine spoilage. Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Zimbabwe’s largest referral hospital, received a 500-kW hybrid solar-battery system, bringing relief to staff and patients who previously endured total darkness during power outages. Nurses at these facilities no longer need to ask expecting mothers to provide candles or torches for lighting during deliveries, and patients like Ne...
