The role of renewable energy technology in powering medical laboratories and other health facilities in the Global South: SDGs evidence from Zimbabwe

Abstract

Renewable energy technologies to power health facilities have become very important in the 21st century due to the lack of power from conventional power supplies especially in the case of Global South and specifically in Zimbabwe. The study's objective was to examine the role of renewable energy technology in powering medical laboratories and other health care facilities in the Global South- Sustainable Development Goals washing each other’s hands with evidence from Zimbabwe. The study used qualitative methods and secondary data was collected from various sources such as United Nations Development Programme, Reach Alliance, World Health Organisation and Green Platform Policy documents. The main results of the study showed that renewable energy technology has provided relief to patients and rural communities who have not been failing to get services due to a lack of conventional electricity. Additionally, the study indicated that over 1044 health facilities in Zimbabwe are now under solar support hence these facilities now have electricity 24 hours a day and key services are being provided, hence, improving health outcomes and SDG 3 objectives. Additionally, sustainable energy is also more sustainable in the long run as compared to conventional electricity generation which has negative effects on the environment. The policy shift by the government of Zimbabwe to work with partners to provide solar energy to health institutions is applauded. The government can shift its policy towards further empowering the locals to get contracts to implement and install solar energy in the remaining facilities considering that already there was knowledge transfer done when the local engineers were trained by the primary contractors of UNDP. The study recommended that the government may provide policies that support more of the solar grids and move away from relying on conventional electricity generation which has been giving the country problems of load-shedding since year 2008.

Keywords: {'name': 'Renewable Energy, Health, Sustainable Development Goals, laboratory, facilities, conventional electricity'}

Authors & affiliations

Crossman Mayavo
Midlands State University

Morelate Kupfuwa
Midlands State University

John Ringson
North-West University

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