Solar power: A shot in the arm for India’s health centers

Friday, May 5, 2017

CHENNAI, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – For Dr Vinayak Salunke, flashlights worth less than $10 each are one of the most valuable assets at the Vihamandra health center in Aurangabad in India’s western state of Maharashtra.

With the clinic serving a population of 48,000, Salunke must prepare for up to six hours of power cuts daily, rather like a surgeon scrubbing up for surgery.

“We don’t have power back-up, so the torch batteries are vital. We check them every day,” he said. “We also monitor the temperature of our refrigerator constantly to make sure vaccines and drugs are safe. It’s become a way of life now.”

The health center is one of tens of thousands in India with little or no power supply that are now looking for alternative ways to stay functional.

Source: Reuters (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Energy, Health Care
Tags
renewable energy, vaccines