Noticeable Positive Impact from Demo PV Systems

The demonstration program implemented by the Project to show the functionality and usefulness of a limited number of PV installations in strategically important locations and niches is now attaining noticeable positive impact.

Bupandwa dispensary in Sengerema district , one of the health facilities where demonstration PV systems were installed.

Apart from unforeseeable shortfalls the systems are functioning satisfactorily. The impact according to the medical workers in the health facilities and teachers in the schools and the other beneficiaries of all institutions is very positive. More patients are attended at night and they are no longer contributing for kerosene. Doctors can now attend patients in well lit rooms making environment attractive to even other staff of health facilities. In students around schools where demonstration systems have been installed, are now able to study at night.

During this year, the second phase of the demonstration program was advertised for. This phase includes the installation of PV systems at 3 health facilities in the 6 districts of the region. Schools were not considered as of much benefits as of system uses experienced at health facilities because most of them are day schools. All the districts have identified the sites, mainly health centers and dispensaries, which were visited by the project technical team.

During these visits, the team identified the minimum required sizes of the systems, the center’s suitability as a demonstration site and signed with the committees Memorandum of Understandings specifying the roles of each party in the installation and maintenance of PV systems.

The second phase installation of the demonstration PV systems has been accomplished in three sites in each of Magu and Sengerema districts and one site in Misungwi district.

The project is maintaining contacts with the District Medical Officers in all of the above districts and the members of committees of the above facilities to enhance the contributions by the beneficiaries to finalize the installations.

In an effort to maximize the benefits of solar equipment installed earlier in health facilities by different donors, the project conducted an evaluation of the existing cold chain equipment in cooperation with the Regional Cold Chain Office (RCCO).

Arrangements were made also to cooperate with the RCCO to rehabilitate these systems, within this arrangement the existing CC equipment (total of 17 solar fridges for vaccine refrigeration) were maintained and are now operational.

The RCCO provided new batteries and the missing or faulty fridge components for all the sites, and made provisions to ensure the existence of guards in all these centers. The project provided the missing PV arrays (4- all being stolen) and provided technical training for the users of this equipment.

The DCCOs are also contacted to identify the sites for the new fridges (two in each of the six rural districts) and arrange with the beneficiaries to prepare their contributions (local materials and labor cost of installation) to accomplish the installations.

The fridges to be provided by the project are now in the procurement process.