It’s my birthday – a chance for reflection.
Three years ago at the same time of year, I faced a major challenge – how to install a solar electric system in a state hospital in Nigeria. My hospital research the year prior had alerted me to the fact that sporadic and unreliable electricity [...]
“There’s going to be a lot of babies saved, a lot of women saved,” exclaimed Ugandan midwife Esther Madudu, after receiving a Solar Suitcase. Until last month, Esther had been conducting nighttime deliveries holding a cellphone in her teeth. When the Solar Suitcase was installed, Esther immediately put it to good use. Under the newly [...]
Dr. Jacques Sebisaho revealed the power of the Solar Suitcase to save lives this December, when he returned to Idjwi clinic in the DR Congo. The clinic has no power, and when night falls, it is impossible to provide adequate medical care. On this trip, Jacques had a Solar Suitcase, which was quickly put [...]
I met Isha Daramy-Kabia less than a week ago, but I instantly knew she would be a friend for life. She sparkled from the stage of the Global Women Leadership Network last Thursday as she declared “No woman should die in childbirth in Sierra Leone!” and announced that she would build her second maternity [...]
On this Thanksgiving, we thank health care workers around the world for their courageous efforts to provide skilled obstetric care to childbearing women and their families under the most adverse conditions. We are grateful for the opportunity to help them deliver safer care and save lives. Here are some photos and recent words from the [...]
Our November 2011 WE CARE expedition to Northern Nigeria culminated with the installation of three Solar Suitcases in Wudil General Hospital in Kano. We targeted crucial areas in the fight against maternal mortality: The labor and delivery room received lights, a fetal doppler, and mobile phone charging; the operating theatre obtained surgical lighting to [...]
Nigeria, November 2011. It’s our ninth day delivering Solar Suitcases to maternal health facilities in Kano and Kaduna states. As we make our way from clinic to clinic, we have been overwhelmed by stories we have heard about the consequences of inadequate lighting on childbirth. It has been heartbreaking to hear midwives describe how [...]
One of the things we love about working in other countries is that it gives us an opportunity to train others to become competent with solar electricity. On this trip, in addition to training dozens of health workers to use and maintain the solar suitcase, we are expanding our team with new trainers and [...]
Today was magical. Our team left the city of Kano to reach Minjibir General Hospital, where we were scheduled to bring light and power to the Operating Theatre, Maternity Ward, and Labor Room. The staff was excited about our Solar Suitcase training, and quickly assembled a group of midwives, doctors, and hospital administrative staff, [...]
ABC News featured WE CARE Solar tonight: “Let There Be Light – World News’ Person of the Week: Dr. Laura Stachel of WE CARE Solar”. Our story is part of ABC’s Million Moms Challenge project to raise awareness and funds to address pregnancy issues and children’s health. ABC shows footage taken when they joined us [...]
