Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The European Union (EU) and Enugu State Government have launched a N3.33 billion Enugu State Solar for Health Project to electrify over 25 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state.
They also inaugurated Enugu State Solar for Health Project Steering Committee, headed by the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, to manage and ensure sustainability of the project.
The launch is part of EU project titled, “Nigeria Solar for Health Programme (NISHP),” aimed at providing a 24/7 power supply to over 100 healthcare facilities across five states in Nigeria.
The NISHP will run from 2024 to 2027 to improve the country’s healthcare system by providing solar power to public health facilities in participating states.
The states are Enugu, Ogun, Plateau, Abia and Akwa-Ibom, while Enugu is the first state to provide counterpart fund of N1 billion to support the project.
Launching the project at Old Government Lodge, Enugu, Head of Green and Digital Economy, EU Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs Inga Stephanowicz, said the project was aimed at bringing electrification to communities especially to the health facilities.
While noting that many primary health centres in Nigeria lack some basic amenities and were in need of electrification, Stephanowicz said five states in the country would benefit from it.
According to her, Enugu is one of the first states that volunteered and made the necessary commitment to become priority state in the EU intervention.
“Enugu is going to get N3.33 billion from the EU support as they have paid counterpart fund of N1 billion and when you multiply this amount by the fives states, that is the amount we are spending for the project.
“It is Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of providing basic health, community services and electrification needed for people to live, become healthy and raise families.
“We are championing a model that is all stakeholders driven in which local businesses will be connected as the solar project will be powering both health facilities and SMEs around it.
“This means that we are not electrifying only health facilities but also business around it. One of those businesses will be a telecom tower to improve telecommunication in that facility,” she said.
In a keynote speech, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, said the project was step in the collective journey towards SDGs and improved healthcare delivery for the citizen as well as underscoring the critical link between access to clean energy, health and well-being of the people in communities.
According to the governor, it is quick reminder that the challenges we face in the primary healthcare and energy access are interconnected and required innovative and collaborative solution.
Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed that Enugu State had long been committed to improving the healthcare outcomes and addressing energy deficit with the Nigeria solar for health project.
“We are taking a bold step towards ensuring that our primary care facilities across the state have reliable, sustainable and uninterrupted energy supply.
“This initiative align perfectly with our administration’s vision to enhance the quality of life for every citizens of Enugu State.
“The deployment of solar energy solutions in our healthcare facilities means that critical health services will no longer be disrupted due to power outages,” Mbah said.
The Programme Manager, Energy Access, EU Nigeria, Mr Godfrey Ogbemudia, assured that by 2030 through the project, 100 million Nigerians would have access to electricity.
He said EU had committed €20 million to power sector in Nigeria for both off grid and renewable energy between 2008 to 2020 and additional €37 million to new energy access programmes from 2021 to 2027.
Presenting the NISHP, Senior Stakeholder Engagement Manager, NISHP, Mr Tinyan Ogiehor, explained that NISHP was funded by EU in collaboration with the Enugu State Government to particularly improve health outcomes in the state.
He further mentioned that the project was designed with key elements of long term sustainability in mind, hence the need to electrify productive load users as well as have government provide counterpart funds.
“The EU is providing fund for solar PV, batteries, and inverters for minimum of 25 health facilities in Enugu State spread across 17 Council Areas.”
