Until recently, having continuous lighting for childbirth in Zimbabwe was not assured. Most health facilities in the country had sporadic or no power. Mothers were routinely told to pack candles as part of their birthing kits. The situation changed when We Care Solar implemented a national solar energy program in Zimbabwe to “Light Every Birth.” We Care Solar is a U.S. based nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every woman can deliver safely in a health facility equipped with power.

Meet the Women Solving Critical Gaps in Maternal Health Care
At a teaching hospital in Nigeria, Executive Director and Founder of We Care Solar, Laura Stachel MD, DrPH experienced the third delay firsthand while conducting research there as a graduate student. Although mothers and birthing people are essential to a thriving society, they often do not receive the care they require or deserve. One way of visualizing this inability to receive adequate care is through the Three Delays Model. The Three Delays Model holds that there are three steps in maternal health care where care is delayed.
-January 23, 2023