Page 5 - AsiaElec Week 03 2023

AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec

reliable access to electricity, while 12-15%, or The US identified 100,000 public health facili-
25,000 facilities, reported having no electricity ties in Sub-Saharan Africa without access to reli-
whatsoever. able power and internet connectivity.
Indeed, nearly two-thirds of facilities across Power initiatives, renewables and off-grid
these regions are in need of urgent intervention projects, are a key pillar of government and
to improve their access to reliable electricity. DFI policies to to alleviate poverty and to boost
“It is simply unacceptable that tens of thou- post-coronavirus (COVID-19) economic
sands of clinics in rural areas of Asia, Africa, and recovery.
Latin America are equipped with little more than For example, the World Bank has lent
kerosene lanterns and rapid diagnostic tests,” the $150mn to boost electricity access across Soma-
report said. lia by funding off-gird green power initiatives
“The image of health care providers bent over in a bid to alleviate poverty and to boost post
a patient’s bedside, hand-holding his or her pulse COVID-19 economic recovery.
under a fading kerosene lamp – needs to be rel- The project is set to enhance health and edu-
egated once and for all to the annals of history.” cation services by providing electricity access to
Funding of up to $4.9 billion would provide 205 health facilities and 380 schools.
100,000 facilities with new off-grid electrical
connections and backup energy systems for Levelling up
another 230,000. However, this price tag only provides the most
Major donors are involved in ring-fencing aid basic services, set at 15 kW for non-hospitals
funding at health facilities, but more is needed. such as clinics and 500 kW per hour for hospitals.
In December, USAID announced a $150mn It would cost $8.9bn to increase non-hospi-
initiative to bring power and internet access to tals energy access to 32 kW, which would allow
hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa, saying that the for the provision of a broader range of healthcare
issue was A key challenge to delivering health services.
care on the continent. Importantly, the estimates also do not include
Such funding aims to provide renewable costs related to the acquisition of new medical
power and crucially mobile network and Inter- equipment. Electrification without a parallel
net access for at least 10,000 health facilities investment in such equipment, the report found,
across the region. would be an incomplete strategy, meaning the

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