Solar Power for Refugees in Bidibidi, Uganda

3rd Health Centre Solar-powered plus ICT

We are very happy to announce the installation of another solar energy system (5.5) kilowatts at Bolomoni Health Centre, Zone 4, Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Yumbe District. The Bolomoni Health Centre is quite unique compared to the others that have benefited from the solar energy installations. This is because the Health Centre is heavily dependent on 2 heavy electric generators of 12 kilowatts each which are operated alternately to supply up to 16 hours of electric power daily. While one generator kicks in from about 9.30 am to 1 pm, the other takes over from 7pm to 7am. As should be expected, most of the nearby Health Centres, even up to Imvepi Refugee Settlement, rely on Bolomoni for blood transfusion, oxygen, and Ultrasound scan services. Given the hitherto reliance on fossil fuel, the new Solar energy system will now reduce the cost of energy by up to 80% to 90%. Resources will subsequently be channelled to other areas of need in the health centre.

JPIIJPC project director, Fr. Ted Osuala cmf., deployed to Bolomoni Health Centre, with Solarero solar energy technicians, on the 8th of March and commenced work. By Thursday, the 9th of March, they finished the basic installations and commenced test running the system. Notwithstanding switching on the system in the evening on merely the already pre-charged batteries, it powered the whole establishment, (comprising of lighting – both at the main operations block and the staff quarters, 4 fridges, and the Television and DSTV lounge for the staff), till morning when solar charging began. With this development it was decided that it was better to keep the system consolidated, by installing a changeover switch instead of splitting the system, to enable the health centre to maximise all that the system could provide.

After a whole day of monitoring the installation, on Saturday the 11th of March 2023 the technicians commenced the maintenance training of the health centre personnel and the dos and don’ts in the use of solar energy infrastructure. They were advised to pump water always with the electric generator unless when it is assured that all the fridges are turned off and on no account should the heavy-duty washing machine previously being run on the generator be switched on the solar system.

By around 5pm, in the presence of the UNHCR Associate Program Officer of Yumbe Sub Office and the Health Manager, International Rescue Committee, in charge of the health sector interventions in the Refugee settlement, JPIIJPC handed over the solar system to the resident Health Officer of Bolomoni Health Centre.

JPIIJPC remain grateful to the bishop of Arua diocese, who has been very supportive of the services of JPIIJPC in the settlements. Thanks to the redesigning of the project by JPIIJPC to jumpstart take-off, under the able leadership of the director, Mr. Alfred Avuni, some of our corporate donors are now supporting added services like ICT infrastructure – laptops, printer, and internet to exploit fully the power infrastructure installed. We thank all our sponsors, donors, and partners from Spain who have made this possible. We are optimistic to extend the solar energy to the Schools and Business hubs once the remaining Health Centres have been solar-powered.

As hinted in the last report that John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC) was on the verge of installing solar energy in 2 Health Centres before the end of the year 2022, we are happy to report that we achieved our target of installing a total of 11 kilowatts of solar energy in 2 Health Centres in Bidibidi – namely Twajiji and Igamara Health Centre Level III. Thanks to the able leadership of the Director of John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre, Mr. Alfred Avuni, whose guidance led to the restructuring and segmentation of the project concept for easy takeoff. 

We are quite grateful to GlobalGiving who brought our cause for the refugees in Bidibidi to global attention such that some of our corporate donors became interested and passionate to give us a push commencing with the health sector of the project.

In the month of September and December respectively, John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC) with a team of technicians of solar service providers, after 3 days of hard work in each case, succeeded in installing 5 kilowatts and 6 kilowatts of solar energy at Twajiji and Igamara Health Centres respectively. The Project leader – Fr. Ted Osuala cmf, with the  team of technicians, passed by the bishop’s residence at Arua to show him some of the solar equipment before proceeding to Bidibidi refugee settlement for the commencement of the installation works.

Working in collaboration with UNHCR who coordinate the affairs of the refugees, International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Office of the Prime Minister Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, a certificate of completion and handover note was signed by the in-charge of the Health Centre, the JPIIJPC project leader, IRC and UNHCR representatives present on Sunday evening of 18^th September 2022, and on Monday evening, 12^th of December 2022 respectively.  

With the installation of the solar energy systems, the challenge posed by the lack of sufficient power has been solved in these Health Centres. It was marvelous to behold the joy of the Health workers, patients, and partners at the completion and switching-on of the system. Just within weeks of completing the project, the preliminary feedback is that the number of patients to the Health Centres has increased especially on the issue of delivery of pregnant mothers at night. The solar energy now helps power the health centres so that previously inaccessible services (diagnostic machines, oxygen concentrators, computers, etc.) due to inadequate supply of energy are now made available to the refugees at the health centres.

Snippets of comments from partners and beneficiaries

“This office promises to collaborate and fully support JPIIJPC in the implementation of this solar power project for the benefit of the Refugees who are mainly the beneficiaries of the services at this Health Centre III and the surrounding host communities.” (Gilbert, Assistant Protection Officer, Office of the prime minister/Department of Refugees, Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, via email, 8^th August 2022).

“Thanks for your efforts in uplifting Bidibidi Health Facilities” (Samuel, UNHCR, Yumbe, via WhatsApp message, 14^th December 2022).

“The power has had some of the benefits below:

-       Ease of delivering babies for midwives at night.

-       Improved visibility around the facility

-       Improved security at night hours both from intruders and attacks from snakes and scorpions.

-       24 hours services being provided by the health centre to the beneficiaries.

-       Improved staff recreation through television use. 

We also have plans to request our management key medical equipment like oxygen concentrator and refrigerator for storing vaccines and insulin.” (Ezekiel, In-charge, Health Centre III, Igamara, via WhatsApp message, 24^th December 2022). 

“We are particularly grateful for your efforts in supporting the solar projects for our health centres, as they have made a significant impact in improving the wellbeing of our community” (Hakim, Health Manager, IRC, Bidibidi, via WhatsApp message, 25^th December 2022)

JPIIJPC is grateful to the bishop of Arua diocese, under whose jurisdiction is the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement (one of the biggest refugee camps in the whole world), who has been very supportive of the services of JPIIJPC in the settlements. We thank all our sponsors, donors, partners and collaborators in supporting us to make this possible. We are optimistic that with your support we will provide more solar energy to the neediest health facilities, and extend to the Schools and Business Hubs that are not yet catered for at the moment in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement.