Solar Autoclaves for Rural Nicaragua

Summary

This project will enable a local women's group to manufacture and distribute solar medical instrument sterilizers to health clinics without electricity in rural Nicaragua.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Nurses of rural health clinics are forced to travel far and often to sterilize their medical instruments. A solar autoclave will allow them to sterilize instruments on-site, thereby spending more time with patients and ensuring the availability of sterile equipment on hand. This project will further the research and development of solar autoclaves, as well as build the capacity of a local women's group, Las Mujeres Solares, to produce and distribute them.

How will this project solve this problem?

This project will provide manufacturing, computer, and marketing skills training to members of the local women's group in Nicaragua. It will further the research and development of the solar autoclave by funding on-site research and pilot studies.

Potential Long Term Impact

The project will enable solar autoclaves to be produced and distributed in Nicaragua, where nearly 1000 rural health clinics lack electricity.

Project Message

"How many times can you sterilize instruments in a week?" "One time. If there is more than one birth in a week, we have to turn the mother away."
- Yessenia Gonzalez Perez, A nurse in the rural health clinic in Cuje.

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources