The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recently launched a new solar energy project in Chad. It is called "Santé Soleil" (Healthy Sunshine). The first phase of the project, which aims to install solar panels in 150 health centres across the country, is designed to reduce the maternal mortality rate. The UNDP is funding the project with more than $3 million, or about 1.8 billion CFA francs.
Since July 10, 2020, the health centre in Ngone-Ba, in the 9th district of the Chadian capital N’Djamena, has been equipped with a photovoltaic solar system. The community clinic was chosen by the Chadian government to serve as the framework for the launch of a new solar energy project initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the country.
Dubbed “Solar Health”, the project will be implemented in several phases. The first stage aims to electrify 150 health centres in Chad through the installation of solar panels. The United Nations (UN) development agency has released more than 3 million dollars, the equivalent of about 1.8 billion CFA francs, for the work to be carried out. “The solar systems will help improve health indicators and contribute to the fight against maternal and neonatal mortality,” said Stephen Kinloch Pichat, the UNDP deputy representative in Chad.
The ‘Sun Health’ project involves all public, community and faith-based health centres in the country. Currently only the health centre in Ngone-Ba is powered by solar energy. The installation of solar panels in the remaining 149 hospital structures is in progress. The solar systems will be installed on rooftops or on the ground. “Thus, the entire cold chain, all lighting, ventilation, medical and technical instruments and the water tower of the health centres will be powered by solar energy,” explains Mahamoud Youssouf Khayal, Chad’s Minister of Public Health.
Inès Magoum
