For many people, the simple thought of surgery can be unsettling. But imagine what it would be like—both as a patient and a surgeon—if you had no choice but to go through an operation with no power in the complete and total dark.
This was an unfortunate reality for the medical staff at Hospital Bernard Mevs in Port au Prince, Haiti, just a few weeks ago in February. Due to a power outage (and two failed backup generators) that lasted for almost five hours, my colleagues at the hospital were stuck in a difficult situation, using headlamps and flashlights to operate and care for patients who needed medical attention after the sun had gone down.
As a physiotherapist and operations coordinator for Project Medishare, a healthcare organization dedicated to improving care and quality of life in Haiti, I’ve witnessed firsthand the many challenges associated with the unreliable and costly prices of diesel fuel in the country. That’s why Hospital Bernard Mevs recently kicked off the construction of a 100-killowatt solar system, including a battery storage system to help provide 24/7 power, in case of emergency outages. When completed, the hospital will benefit from the project in three major ways:
1. Significantly reduced energy costs, which currently run as high as $60,000/month. The monthly savings will instead go toward expanding patient care.
2. Extra electrical capacity provided by the battery system will protect sensitive medical equipment from common power surges that can be quite damaging to our equipment. This is an additional long-term cost savings for the hospital and another way to ensure high-quality and reliable care.
3. Lower pollution thanks to the use of a cleaner energy source.
From a broader perspective, however, the ability to tap solar energy in Haiti means reduced patient risk. It can even mean the difference between life and death, and it’s precisely the reason why we are so thrilled to partner with NRG Solar and the Clinton Global Initiative in spreading the power of solar energy in Haiti.
Over the next several days, NRG Solar will share pictures and stories from our volunteers on the ground. To hear the latest, follow #solar4haiti or follow NRG Solar on Twitter and Facebook.
