Solar electrification of a hospital

The project aimed to install and implement a solar power system at the Magbenteh Community Hospital in order to provide stable, clean, sustainable and cost-effective electricity, relieving the hospital from the burden of electrical failures and time-wasting repairs. More specifically, it looked to improve the productivity and lifespan of the medical and general equipment, provide a reliable healthcare service through stable and renewable energy supply and reduce expenses on diesel and maintenance for back-up generators.

The Magbenteh Community Hospital was equipped with a sustainable source of stable electricity, generated by a solar panel installation. The installation consists of 120 solar panels, with a total generating capacity of 40kWh, coupled with batteries with a storage capacity of 48kWh. The stable current does not damage sensitive electrical equipment such as ECG machines, scanners, laboratory equipment and x-ray machines. The installation is modular: additional solar panels and batteries can be added if and when the need for electricity increases. Thanks to the new installation the hospital can now perform safe evening and night-time surgical interventions. The hospital will be saving up to US$3,000 a month on diesel fuel, and the funds will be used for the purchase of essential medicines. This installation is an important step towards enabling the hospital to become financially self-sustainable.

The Swiss Sierra Leone Development Foundation (SSLDF) is a Swiss association founded in 1996. It seeks to enhance and promote the welfare and socio-economic development of vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone

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