Powering Up Solar Impact In Africa

After months of planning, shipping, training and preparation, a solar electrification project in Kédougou, Senegal is about to begin, one that will directly protect the lives of mothers and their newborn children during childbirth, thanks in part to donors of this project! 

Funds here helped provide training to the Barefoot solar engineer trainees in the area that are now starting the birthing center installation.

By solar electrifying this birthing center, more than 500 woman and their arriving newborns will now give birth at night with safe lighting and a clean water—the well that services the center will now benefit from a solar pump to ensure sufficient water is on hand. The water is now supplied by a hand crank from a nearby well and the center has no electrical power.

“Nighttime births are very dangerous,” said Karine Sar, Director of the Barefoot College International Senegal regional center. “If they have to use kerosene lamps, it is a very unhealthy situation for the birth. Some midwives and nurses resort to have a light from their cellphone in their teeth while delivering the babies.” 

“The Birthing Centre represents a signicant improvement for women over giving birth at home attended only by family members with no medical training, as the Matron and Nurse staffing the Birthing Centre have both training and extensive experience,” said Sue Stevenson, director of strategic partnerships.

The project has energized recent graduates from the Senegal training center. Cohort 3 had several trainees from the Kédougou region.