Sylvia Kalley, Country Representative, eHealth Africa in Sierra Leone, was our host during this session of Insights webinar. She led an in-depth discussion with our panelists on Sustainable Energy for Improved Healthcare Delivery in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).

Our panelists included:

Mohammed Bello, Project Manager, eHealth Africa;

Yunusa Medugu, Asst. Chief Data Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency;

Frankie Eckersley-Carr, GIS & Software Tools Consultant, INTEGRATION environment & energy GmBH

Philip Ifeanyi Egboka, GIS and Renewable Energy Expert, INTEGRATION environment & energy GmBH

Below are answers to the remaining questions posed during the webinar. Due to time constraints, our panelists could not address all the questions. Welcome to find your answers below.

1. What are some challenges to becoming a Sustainable Healthcare Organization?

The endlessly challenging demands brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic set the evolution of the modern healthcare environment in motion. Patient surges, staffing shortages, and the need for rapidly-changing procedures all came together to inspire change at every level. Beyond that, government regulations and big tech innovations complicated matters further. So, while treating your patients remains paramount, the modern healthcare environment now demands so much more from your medical practice. Health professionals now have to step beyond the basic caregiver role to truly exceed their patient’s expectations. They are now tasked with being tech experts, cybersecurity heroes, financial experts, patient experience marvels, and so much more – they really cannot do it alone. This is because, cybersecurity threats, tele-health implementation (as a result of Covid-19), shortage of healthcare staff, etc. are some of the major challenges facing the healthcare industry.

2. What are the main barriers against implementing a renewable energy system?

There are a number of legitimate technological barriers to the widespread deployment of renewable energy, including limited availability of infrastructure, inefficient knowledge of operations and maintenance, and insufficient research and development initiatives. However, renewable energy technologies are clean power-generating systems. They help provide suitable power for every business/homeowner.

3. How do we get buy-in from Government and other partners to go in this direction in terms of renewable energy?

Getting government buy-in requires an in-depth comparative analysis between the Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) and the Operating Expenses (OPEX), cost of diesel generators, unreliable grid supply, and renewable energy. Once these data are shared with partners, donors, and the government, they will make the right decision on the need of having renewable energy in PHCs with little or no OPEX.

4. How do we make sure sustainable solutions like the RE4PH solution proposed for health facilities are maintained and sustained in order to make sure expensive renewable energy investments are sustained for their minimum lifetime?

During the project implementation stage, we request technical personnel of the PHCs to be part of the project. After the project execution, the technical personnel will continue the operation and maintenance of the system. A remote monitoring device is installed to ensure system performance is monitored and if there is any issue, before the personnel on the ground notices, the core technical team would have seen it on the dashboard and relay information to the team on the ground for prompt resolution. The remote device will use one of the local available networks to connect to the cloud. The proposed location will cut across the 6 geopolitical zones based on available funding.

5. How do you connect renewable energy to the primary health centers ravaged by bandit attacks and insurgencies?

Majorly the security of these systems lies with the PHCs board, which is part of the MOU signed before project implementation. Once we notice that the areas are prone to attacks we halt installation pending when we get clearance from our security advisor to proceed with the installation.

6. How can vulnerable people in remote areas get access to a good healthcare system in Nigeria?

At eHealth Africa, we respond to local needs and provide underserved communities with tools to lead healthier lives through the integration of information technology, and operations. We will utilize data and technology to navigate to all health facilities including those in highly remote and hard-to-reach locations based on the availability of funding.

7. Is this renewable energy going to spread across all PHCs in Nigeria or some specific region in the geopolitical zones in Nigeria?

The proposed location will cut across the 6 geopolitical zones and all 36 states and the FCT based on available funding.

8. Our problem with the vendors is some of the products are not very satisfying, I am specifically talking about the Dulas SDD. It solely relies on electricity for charging. No electricity for 2 days is still a challenge. Please can you advise us on this?

We will require further information to provide guidance and advice on this issue. Do we know the model of the Dulas SDD? Usually, Solar Direct Drive cold chain equipment does not require electricity to function. Certain hybrid CCE models can work with both electricity and solar power, however; electricity is not a requirement.

9. Is it possible to have solar WIFR in the state cold store? If  yes can NPHCDA suggest that to GAVI so as to reduce the cost of maintaining CCE  in the state's Cold Store?

Yes, there are multiple options available for Walk-in Freezer Rooms. You may review the PQS pre-qualified options through the PQS catalog. Non-PQS options are also available through third-party logistics organizations.

10. Up-to-date data is required to formulate policies and plan interventions and solutions for renewable energy in health facilities. These policies ensure the deployment of resources where needed.

Exactly, we have taken the first step by mapping all Health Facilities and the data/ maps are accessible on eHA Data Portal (https://data.ehealthafrica.org/). In addition, we are working with our partners to illuminate and bridge the gap in terms of providing data that will inform decisions as regards energy access in Health Facilities.

11. What mitigated measures should this sustainable renewable energy project see in terms of having a monitoring control room as the center to monitor these devices? Is this project going to cover the 6 geo-political regions in Nigeria?

During the project implementation stage, we request for technical personnel of the PHCs to be part of the project, after the project execution, the technical personnel will continue the operation and maintenance of the solar system. A remote monitoring device is installed to ensure system performance is monitored and if there is any issue, even before the personnel on ground notices, the core technical team would have seen it on the dashboard and relays information to the team on ground for prompt resolution. The remote device will use one of the local available networks to connect to the cloud. The proposed location will cut across the 6 geo-political zones based on available funding.

12. What is the capacity of the renewable power solution that has been designed for each of the PHCs where the technology will be deployed?

The RE4PH modular solution varies based on the size of the PHCs and the number of patients attended to. The solution will range from a 1kVA system to a 5kVA system.