Hari
Sunar's final antenatal check at Pandavkhani health post in Nepal
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Hari Sunar is a 24 year-old mum whose second
child is due in a few days. She walked from her home in the remote Nepalese
village Pandavkhani for her final antenatal checkup at her local birthing
centre through shuddering thunder, a drenching rainstorm and one of the
village's frequent power cuts.
These power cuts can last up to two weeks and
used to cause the birthing centre significant problems. But now it has its own
power solution. The light in the birthing centre stays on and she smiles.
"I am really happy," the young mum
says. "Because we have a solar light at the birthing centre."
That light is powered by a bright yellow suitcase
bolted to the delivery room wall. This is a solar suitcase. Connected to a
solar panel on the roof, the device is a miniature power station that provides
light, heat and battery charging and a baby monitor.
Life saving
For local midwife, Hima Shirish, the solar
suitcase has been a lifesaver. She was determined find a solar solution for her
health centre's energy problems. A charity called One-Heart Worldwide sourced the
solar suitcase and installed it in Pandavkhani in 2014. Since then there have
been no maternal or baby deaths here.
"Pregnant mothers used to be afraid of the
dark when they came to give birth at the health post," Hima says.
"They feared losing their babies. But now
the fear is gone and they are relieved that they are going to have a baby using
the solar light."
Off-grid solution
Midwife Hima Shirish
switches on the solar suitcase to power life-saving medical equipment
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The solar suitcase is the brainchild of
California-based obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Laura Stachel of We Care Solar.
While in Nigeria in 2008, she witnessed
complications and even deaths when babies were delivered at night without
reliable light or power. Dr Stachel devised a suitcase-sized, off-grid, solar
electric system with her husband, solar engineer, Hal Aronson.
The prototype was so successful in Nigeria, they
decided to bring the innovation to clinics and health stations in other
countries with high rates of maternal and new-born baby mortality.
Earthquake challenge
In Nepal, the 2015 earthquake destroyed many of
its hospitals and left most of the remaining facilities without reliable power.
Weighing just 16kg (35lbs) solar suitcases were
ideal for deployment over tough terrain. They provided life-saving power to
makeshift medical and birthing tents in the immediate aftermath of the quake.
But, even without such natural disasters, Nepal
is a long way from being able to generate the electricity its people need.
"There are a lot of maternity or small
clinics in rural areas where they have no electricity at all." Up to a
third of rural areas have no reliable power, says Raj Kumar Thapa, managing
director of Solar Solutions Private Limited.
The solar suitcase was
the brainchild of obstetrician Dr Laura Stachel, co-founder of We Care Solar
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Government schemes to increase small-scale power
generation using solar, wind or hydro have had limited success, he says, because
it is difficult for private companies to install and maintain systems in remote
areas while still making a profit.
"So as long as the users are provided with
proper training on the operation of the system I think there is a bigger role
to play for solar energy especially on a charitable basis in Nepal."
Before the birthing centre was built in
Pandavkhani in 2013, most babies were delivered at home, sometimes by
torchlight or in total darkness. In difficult cases, mothers in labour would be
taken on a 65km (40-mile) mountainous trek over mud and rocks to the hospital
in the nearest town, Baglung.
"Some babies were in the wrong position and
we did not have the equipment to help them," Hima recalls. "Mothers
used to die from haemorrhaging."
Now Hima and her staff are also able to charge
their mobile phones, another vital piece of kit in this remote part of the
world.
"Sometimes the power cuts can last for 15
days," Hima explains. "We used to be completely out of contact
because we could not charge our mobile phones."
Mrs Sunar is just one of 175 mothers who have
already given birth at the centre at least once. As she waits to deliver her
second child, she is reassured by her experience during the birth of her
daughter.
"When I was in labour with my first child… I
arrived at the health post and the light had just been cut. But the health
worker said they had a solar suitcase so I didn't need to worry."
Diagram of the Solar Suitcase. (Image courtesy of
WCS)
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Originally published on BBC
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