Haiti:

Haiti has some of the highest energy costs in the world, and with very few resources and an unreliable power grid, less than 45% of the total population have access to domestic electricity - something most of us would consider a basic necessity. In rural areas, such as the area of our partner hospital, HCBH, fewer than 5% of the population have access to electricity. Of the 9 million people in the Caribbean without electricity, more than 7 million live in Haiti. In recent months, political instability and lack of fuel have led to widespread protests and roadblocks making access to resources nearly impossible.

But, with an average of 8.5 hours of sunshine each day, in Haiti the power of the sun can be harnessed and converted into much-needed electricity.

Solar Development Project

A reliable power supply is a fundamental requirement for any hospital. HCBH struggle with unreliable grid power which can limit the ability to provide life-saving care to those in need. Whilst HHA has strived over the years for the hospital to become as self-sustainable as possible through solar power, the size of our hospital still currently necessitates a few large generators to aid our operations at night . Needless to say, trying to efficiently run a hospital, with no power at night,  significantly impacts our vital services, whether our neonatal unit for premature babies or our emergency surgeries.

In recent years, we have been able to deliver significant upgrades to the hospital’s solar electrical system – a vital source of sustainable power. Thanks to our friends at OffGrid Energy, the team were able to add an additional sub-system in the surgical unit, which increases overall electrical capacity and reduces the burden on the main system. This is part of a regular programme of upgrades which we hope to continue over the coming years.

As part of our sustainable energy goals,  we have recognised the need to train up our local staff in how to maintain and repair the wide array of medical equipment at the hospital. We were delighted to win a grant enabling us to commission Medical Aid International to deliver 2 weeks of intensive bio-medical training to a group of Haitian electricians and technicians. Now with training and specialist tools, the Haiti team have the skills to ensure medical equipment, all around the hospital, remains operational.

In addition, we are thankful for our partnership with the UN and APREMMAH to implement and install solar lighting street lights in the north of Haiti. In total 113 lights have been installed across areas of Cap Haitien itself and the surrounding residential areas including Limbé, Milot, Plaine du Nord and Quartier Morin. The project is run by the Crime and Violence Reduction unit of the UN in Haiti and its central aim has been to increase public safety during the night, for people living in some of the most deprived areas around Cap-Hatien.

In 2022, we are working towards securing another upgrade to the power grid at HCBH, with the goal of becoming 100% self-sustainable. With the recent protests and lack of fuel for our generators, this has become a priority project for the upcoming year.