March 12, 2021
As the virus continued to spread in Uganda, Signify Foundation and its partners provided solar-powered lighting to strengthen the infrastructure of health centers in need.
Installing solar-powered lighting in health facilities in Uganda strengthens the local capacity to serve the population impacted by COVID-19. This project was funded by the Signify Foundation in partnership with Ministry of Health Uganda, Village Energy, and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). It began in July 2020 – a crucial response to the COVID-19 pandemic – seeking to improve service delivery for Level III and IV Health Centers across Uganda.
In addition to the solar home systems and lanterns distributed to the health centers, street lights were also installed, boosting security and providing a safe working space for the healthcare workers during the night.
After reaching Uganda in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the many challenges of the healthcare sector – including poor and limited access to lighting. As soon as the sun sets, health centers and ambulance bases, are forced to operate in the dark, seriously handicapping the overall functioning of the healthcare system.