Addis Ababa/Geneva, 11 October 2024 – In a groundbreaking move to improve health care access and sustainability, the Ethiopia Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Gavi, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched the Health Facility Solar Electrification (HFSE) initiative. The program aims to power 300 remote health care facilities across Ethiopia with solar energy, benefiting an estimated 6.7 million people in underserved communities.
Supported by a US$ 35 million investment from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, this initiative is part of a larger effort to create climate-resilient health systems, enhance vaccine storage capabilities, and expand primary health care services in Ethiopia’s rural regions. The first phase targets health facilities that are far from the national power grid, helping address the critical need for reliable energy in these locations.
The use of solar energy in health care facilities will have far-reaching impacts. It will enable more comprehensive services, including improved access to vaccines and safe drinking water. The initiative is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the Ethiopian Ministry of Health’s broader plan to equip over 1,000 facilities with solar power by the end of 2025.
“Today, we are powering health and hope across Ethiopia. With solar electrification, our health facilities will deliver reliable care, even in the most remote communities, bringing us closer to a healthier and brighter future for all,” said H.E. Dr. Dereje Duguma, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Health.
The introduction of solar power will significantly enhance health services, especially in rural areas where electricity is unreliable or non-existent. Health facilities will be better equipped to provide crucial services like immunizations, maternal and infant care, and disease prevention, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for millions of Ethiopians.
As Gavi’s Chief Country Delivery Officer Thabani Maphosa noted, “Access to electricity is a core determinant of a country’s ability to provide quality health services. This initiative strengthens health care systems, contributes to a greener planet, and drives improved health outcomes.”
The initiative also represents a significant step toward building climate resilience in health care, which is particularly important for vulnerable populations affected by climate change. Dr. Aboubacar Kampo, UNICEF’s Representative in Ethiopia, emphasized the wide-reaching benefits: “By enhancing immunization for children and strengthening health services for mothers and infants, we are promoting safer deliveries and improving post-natal and infant care.”
For many communities, the link between energy and health is vital. Without a reliable power source, health facilities struggle to maintain essential medical equipment, such as cold storage for vaccines and other critical devices. This can be life-threatening, especially in regions where maternal and child mortality rates remain high.
“Access to electricity in health care facilities can be a matter of life and death,” said Dr. Owen Laws Kaluwa, WHO Representative to Ethiopia. “With reliable energy, health care workers can provide critical services, prevent diseases, and save lives.”
The HFSE initiative will leverage Gavi’s Cold Chain Equipment Optimisation Platform (CCEOP) to deploy solar energy packages across 1,000 health care facilities in Ethiopia, Pakistan, Uganda, and Zambia. This global effort, funded through Gavi, aims to improve vaccine storage and ensure that health facilities can continue delivering essential care even in the face of power shortages.
Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has played a key role in immunizing over 1.1 billion children worldwide, reducing child mortality, and improving global health security. By supporting initiatives like the HFSE, Gavi continues its mission to protect the next generation, particularly children who have not yet received any vaccines, known as zero-dose children.
With the rollout of the HFSE initiative, Ethiopia is setting an inspiring example of how renewable energy can transform health care and provide sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world’s children against some of the deadliest diseases. Learn more about Gavi’s work and initiatives at www.gavi.org.
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