‘A dream come true,’ was how Kebba Badgie, the hospital’s chief executive, described the new solar panels that stand outside his medical centre.

The hospital, which is in The Gambia, once received only eight hours of power a day but now has a reliable source of electricity. It enables doctors, nurses and midwives to perform operations at night, refrigerate blood, keep vaccines cool and sterilise their equipment properly.

The Gambian healthcare system currently struggles to meet the needs of its 1.6 million population, who are served by just five hospitals. However, with the solar installation, the number of patients arriving for treatment from all over the country has multiplied dramatically. Its new credibility has also led to more donations of medical equipment.

All this was made possible by Kathryn Hall, a 23-year-old medical student from Pennsylvania, in America, who set up Power Up Gambia’ ñ an organisation to empower local people.

In 2006, Kathryn volunteered at the hospital and was shocked to learn that they received a limited daily amount of power. At weekends, the lights went off at 2pm. ‘Reliable electricity is something I take for granted,’ she said. ‘To say that my experience in The Gambia was life-changing is not overstating the case.’

Solar panels were the natural solution because of the ideal weather conditions in the country and their reliability and inexpensive cost to maintain. A local contractor installed the components and will remain close at hand to repair the system if needed.

The panels, which work beautifully, are also a local attraction. Every morning, when the sun rises, they move towards the light ñ drawing quite an audience. Tracking the path of the sun allows the system to generate 14.5 kilowatts, which was more than the team thought they would produce.

After working for two years to raise the necessary funds, Kathryn’s untiring dedication was rewarded with a day of celebration, when the solar panels were officially handed over to the village. A special performance by Jola warriors and a heartfelt speech by Kebba Badgie, all added to the significance of her accomplishments. Leaders of the surrounding villages crowded into the tiny building that houses the solar batteries, to witness Kathryn switch the panels on.

Power Up Gambia’ has now decided to expand its efforts to help the satellite clinics of the Sulayman Junkung General Hospital, in Bwiam. ‘This installation marks a very important step forward for healthcare in the country,’ announced Kathryn. ‘My hope is that this project will help serve as a model for all other solar energy initiatives.’

Contact: Power Up Gambia,
Delaware Community Foundation,
PO Box 1636, Wimington,
Delaware 19899, USA
Website: www​.powerupgambia​.org

The new 96 solar panel array. Photo: © Olga Davidge