ZAMBIA: German Catholic Bishops’ Organization Illuminates Catholic Health Facilities with Solar Power
Sandra Kunda
MISEREOR, a German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation, has generously donated solar systems to 10 Catholic health facilities across eight (8) dioceses in Zambia.
This marks the second phase of a solar installation project adding to eight other facilities, aimed at enhancing healthcare service delivery in the beneficiary institutions.
Sister Agnes Lungu, the Health Director for the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), confirmed the development, emphasizing that the solar panels are strategically designed to improve essential healthcare departments’ functionality, including the labour ward, theater, pharmacy, and laboratory to ensure uninterrupted medical services even during power cuts, fostering swift and efficient patient care.
“We want to ensure quality healthcare in all the catchment areas that we operate from,” Sister Lungu emphasized.
The installation process is underway, spearheaded by BEGECA, a German company.
The recipient health facilities include St. Fidelis Mission Hospital in Kasama, , Chilonga Mission Hospital in Mpika, and St. Joseph and St. Margaret Mission Hospitals in Mansa, among others.
Sister Lungu urged local people and healthcare personnel to safeguard the installed solar systems to prevent vandalism, emphasizing the importance of protecting these assets to sustain the church’s mission.
Expressing gratitude for the solar systems, Sister Patricia Mapesa of St. Fidelis Mission Hospital highlighted the relief these systems bring to the facility, addressing challenges such as medicine storage and ensuring the provision of NHIMA services during power cuts.
Sister Precious Mwembwe of Chilonga Mission emphasized the positive impact on the laboratory and theatre operations during power outages.
Sister Fostina Nsama expressed delight at the donation, foreseeing an end to lighting challenges in the labour ward during power outages.
The Sisters extended their heartfelt thanks to the Catholic Secretariat and MISEREOR, acknowledging the gesture’s profound impact on improving the lives of the people in the communities served.
“This initiative underscores the commitment of MISEREOR and its partners in supporting healthcare infrastructure in Zambia, contributing to the overall well-being of the communities and furthering the mission of the Catholic Church in the region,” Sister Nsama said.
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