Samsung Electronics South Africa have provided a Solar Powered Health Centre (SPHC) to the Maubane Clinic in Dihibidung Village, Ga-Maubane, South Africa.
Designed for use in remote rural areas, the SPHC is housed in a shipping container fitted with an array of medical equipment and Samsung solar panels on the roof. All SPHCs are equipped to run a fully functional general practice, including basic lab facilities.
According to the North West Department of Health, which will be covering the operating costs, the Centre will be able to see up to 300 patients a day and a doctor will visit twice a week.
Many in rural South Africa have little access to professional health care and this impacts on their overall quality of life.
“Solutions like the SPHC help address this issue and we are appreciative of this partnership with Samsung whereby we can use their unique expertise to improve the living standards of our people,” said North West Health MEC Masike.
The solar aspect isn’t just a warm and fuzzy add-on. In areas where the SPHC’s operate, reliable electricity supply can be a major challenge and the solar panels ensure the facility’s non-stop operation.
“Our goal at Samsung is to positively impact African lives,” said Head of Corporate Citizenship for Samsung Electronics Southern Africa, Pitso Kekana. ” We have seen tremendous success thus far and I have high hopes that the village of Dihibidung will enjoy the benefits of high quality, professional medical care.”
Samsung also provided a Mobile Mother and Child Health Centre for the benefit of the villages in the Bojanala District.
Samsung’s Solar Powered Health Centre initiative kicked off in 2013. The first to benefit from SPCH concept was Oasis Itsoseng Community Clinic in Cosmo City in Johannesburg. Another community to recently receive an SPHC was Sokhulumi in Bronkhorstspruit last month.
Samsung uses shipping containers combined with solar to benefit underserved African communities in other ways. In April this year, the company launched a Digital Village at the Volo community in the Volta Region of Ghana that features a solar powered Internet School able to accommodate up to 24 learners. The Digital Village also incorporates a solar powered Tele-Medical Center.
Image source: OpenGhana.com
