SUN FOR HAITI HEALTH CARE

SolarWorld Grants 100 kW to Rebuild Haiti with Renewable Energy; Donation Provides Solar Panels to Electrify Rural Partners In Health Clinics

"…SolarWorld has awarded [The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF)] an in-kind grant of solar panels totaling 100 kilowatts to support the solar electrification of five health clinics for Partners In Health (PIH) in Haiti. The clinics, operated by Zanmi Lasante (ZL), are located in the remote mountain highlands of Haiti and do not have access to the electric grid. In the aftermath of the January earthquake in Port-au-Prince, the facilities have experienced a rise in demand for health-care services, countered by dangerous fluctuations in fuel supplies needed to operate their generators.

"SELF completed the first 10 kW solar-diesel hybrid system for ZL at a clinic in Boucan Carré, Haiti, in September 2009…[M]onthly fuel costs have since declined by 64 percent. In response to the recent disaster, PIH asked SELF to accelerate its timeline to provide solar energy systems to nine remaining PIH/ZL-run clinics in Haiti…"

From solarnow2007 via YouTube

[Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder, PIH:] “A doctor can’t work without electricity and energy. You need diagnostic capacity, you need light to examine a patient…[Y]ou can’t do modern medicine without power…[T]hat brings us to solar power. The whole notion of Partners In Health is based on partnership, and we’ve found an ideal partner in SELF.”

"…The solar electrification projects will play a key role in PIH’s three-year recovery and rebuilding plan, which includes expanding capacity for specialty clinical services needed to care for earthquake survivors, as well as building and renovating public health infrastructure."

Installing panels (click thru for complete info)

"SolarWorld’s Solar2World program makes contributions to regional development in impoverished communities…Since 2008, Solar2World’s solar energy grants have supported a water pumping project in South Africa, a computer training center in Uganda, a hospital in Eastern Congo, a vocational training center in Rwanda, an HIV/AIDS orphanage in Malawi, and more…"

Richard LaRue, development director, SELF:] “SolarWorld’s gift is a huge reason why we are able to fulfill our Rebuilding Haiti plans. In addition to securing reliable care, think of what 100 kW of solar power will mean for PIH’s energy budget for years to come—just 10 kW installed at one clinic last summer dropped PIH’s fuel consumption by seven barrels a month! The solar industry’s generosity in helping make SELF’s work in Haiti possible has been terrific, and SolarWorld led the way.”