Writer: Stacie Yeung

Hong Kong has a sufficient amount of COVID-19 vaccines. However, many residents in undeveloped or developing countries cannot access vaccination and even basic medical facilities. Due to electricity uncertainty, the operation of medical equipment is affected. Also, vaccines could not be transported to these areas because they are not kept cold. To address these problems, different stakeholders have started voicing out to use solar energy to help them. 

One of the suggestions is solar-powered fridge, Vaccibox. An engineer named Norah Magero wanted to help people living in off-grid African communities, so she invented Vaccibox. It is designed to store and transport different kinds of vaccines to ‘off the grids’ areas where the power supply is unreliable. The invention of Vaccibox enables healthcare workers to transport vaccinations under good hygiene conditions and in the right temperature. It is thought that this measure could ensure that the underprivileged can receive adequate healthcare along with saving lives in viable states. 

Another worth mentioning approach is solar-powered hospitals or clinics. Installing solar panels in hospitals can assist in generating electricity such as lighting, and surgery operations. They can be implemented in developing countries in order to provide a significant portion of electricity alongside improving the efficiency of healthcare services. 

We have access to electricity at all times and may not fully understand the challenges faced in areas with unstable power supply. Electricity will affect patients’ safety and security. Solar energy can not only help vulnerable groups and places with frequent power outages, but also strengthen resilience to environmental challenges. 

Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/13/solar-healthcare-clinics-climate-change-california-san-benito
https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/02/02/how-a-solar-powered-fridge-is-helping-covid-vaccines-reach-the-remotest-areas-of-kenya
https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228602

Image Source:
https://www.clasp.ngo/