Burkina Faso - Solar electrification of Werou’s town health center

Presentation of the NGO

Electriciens Sans Frontières

Created in 1986, Electriciens Sans Frontières (ESF) has been been struggling for over 30 years against all forms of inequality access to electricity and water around the world. In the field, their volunteers work hand in hand with local actors to maximize the impact of their actions and ensure their sustainability.

Context of the project

Electriciens Sans Frontières action in Burkina Faso mainly targets collective structures, in particular health centers (over 200 in recent years). The mayor of the municipality of Satiri requested ESF’s support to electrify the Wérou health center, which does not have any access to the national grid. The health center records approximately 300 childbirths per year, women will be the key beneficiaries of this project. Despite the difficulties caused by the security context, it is essential to ensure the population access to basics services. Electriciens Sans Frontières will coordinate the construction of a photovoltaic installation, its commissioning and transfer to the local municipality. The works will be carried out by the local partner “SIPE”, who will also ensure the training of 2 local residents on the maintenance of the building.  The training materials are being provided by Electriciens Sans Frontières.

Presentation of the project

The energy problem

In Burkina Faso, in 2018, only 14.4% of the population had access to electricity. There are strong disparities between urban and rural areas: 62% of the population in urban areas had access to electricity in 2018, compared to 4.7% in rural areas, according to the World Bank. The town of Wérou is part of these rural areas that do not have electricity, the nearest grid being located 45 km away. ESF has received confirmation from the Société Nationale Burkinabè Electricity (SONABEL), which produces, transports and distributes electricity in Burkina Faso, that the electrification of the area has not been planned for the near future. In the absence of electricity, the staff of the health center uses battery-powered flashlights during night interventions, and bottled gas for the refrigerator: All very insufficient means to ensure the preservation of vaccines and drugs, as well as the safety of medical interventions.

The adopted solutions

The Wérou health center consists of 4 buildings: 1 maternity unit, 1 dispensary, 1 consultation building and 1 pharmacy. The center provides also housing for the staff working on site (1 major, 1 nurse and 2 midwives.)

The project plans to install 16 photovoltaic panels (4800Wp) on the roof of the building. In the 4 main buildings of the health center, approximately 40 bulbs (LED 10W – 220V) as well as ten ventilators (50W), 24 OPZv batteries (total capacity: 48kWh, lifetime: 6 years), 4 inverters (5000 VA) and sockets (220V – 50W) shall be put in place.

3 solar street lights (30W) will also be installed outside in order to secure the access to the maternity ward and the dispensary. The 4 units will have 5 bulbs (LED 10W – 220V) and one or two sockets (220V – 50W) per accommodation.