Biren Singh inaugurates sustainable solar energy solutions for healthcare facilities in Manipur

HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 23: Health is a critical measure of a nation’s or state’s growth and development. In Manipur, the government is committed to building health systems that are able to withstand any shocks resulting from climatic risks, extreme weather changes, or sudden public health emergencies, and the rollout of solar-powered health centres aligns well with the ministry’s policy to improve primary healthcare.
SELCO Foundation, in partnership with the Government of Manipur, pioneered a health energy nexus programme in Manipur by integrating Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) into District hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Health and Wellness Centers and sub centres to ensure efficient delivery of health care services to the last mile.
In collaboration with the Directorate of Health Services Manipur, SELCO foundation solarised 68 Health Centres in the Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tamenglong districts of Manipur and provided them with energy efficient equipment, including a Radiant Warmer, Suction Apparatus, Spot light, Solar Direct Drive Vaccine Refrigerator, and luminaires. This project will provide consistency in the power supply to the centres, therefore improving the service delivery, boosting people’s faith in public health care systems and improving the well-being of health care professionals.
Solar energy that can power essential healthcare services can provide a boost to services, such as immunisations, maternal care, deliveries, and diagnostics, as well as contribute to increasing Covid-19 monitoring and vaccination, will be of great benefit to the residents of these districts, who live in difficult, remote terrain and are vulnerable to climate risks and natural disasters.
Following the success of the interventions, the Government of Manipur and SELCO Foundation have initiated the solarisation of 50 Health and Wellness Centres and 50 Primary health centres in partnership, with 60% of the program being funded by the Government of Manipur.
Biren Singh, chief minister of Manipur says, “We are very happy to share that with the help of SELCO Foundation, 68 health facilities across the three districts of Churachandpur, Chandel and Tamenglong in Manipur are now enabled with 24/7 solar electricity. The progress of the project has made us very proud today, and we are confident that it will lead to many positive outcomes as renewable energy is an immediate need for the state of Manipur. SELCO Foundation can help guide the innovations in the state of Manipur to boost employment and talent generation. Maintenance is also important for the long life of the program and we need dedication and training to maintain the solar systems. In the future, we look forward to seeing all the health centres in Manipur to be powered by sustainable, clean and renewable energy, and we are extending our full support to take this program forward.”
Sandeep Nailwal, founder of CryptoRelief says. “The team at CryptoRelief realises the potential that solar powering health centres will enable a foundation to impact health indicators on the ground in these districts. The program will allow the CryptoRelief team to bring together a consortium of partners in these districts to plug gaps to holistically impact the health system through our district full – stack approach.”
Dr. Harish Hande says, “SELCO Foundation interventions are premised on an understanding that uplifting millions out of poverty is possible using decentralised renewable energy (DRE) and energy efficiency as a catalyst. We are very honoured to partner with Manipur. We hope this collaboration will become a model of sustainable delivery of health services to other geographies in the world. A combination of efficient technologies and decentralised clean energy has the power of taking these services closer to the doorsteps of the underserved,” says Dr Harish Hande, CEO of SELCO Foundation.
This partnership between Government of Manipur, Crypto Relief and SELCO Foundation seeks to create a scalable model for health facilities to become more resilient and strongly equipped to meet the needs of the poorest communities, especially during the health emergencies such as Covid continues to grapple the state and beyond.