Solar Power Installed for Five Rural Health Clinics

Improving vaccine provision, healthcare delivery and staff wellbeing

Aworabo CHPS compound

One of the five health centres where we installed solar power is Aworabo. Aworabo is a rural farming community with a population of 1,238 people. The CHPS compound serves five(5) surrounding villages within its catchment area and records an average monthly attendance of approximately 75 patients, including antenatal care, child welfare clinics, immunisations and general outpatient visits.

The nearest town lies many kilometres away, and during the rainy season, that distance feels even greater. For many families across surrounding villages, the CHPS compound is not simply convenient, it is their first and often only point of healthcare.

When we arrived in Aworabo, the road into the community was thick with mud, and as evening approached, darkness settled quickly. There were no streetlights. No distant glow from nearby towns. Only the quiet understanding that once the sun disappeared, so did visibility. This was the reality the local CHPS compound operated in every day.

Paul’s Story

For two years, Mr. Paul Kwabena Peh, the nurse at Aworabo CHPS, worked under these conditions.

“It’s been two years since I was posted to the Aworabo CHPS. Providing healthcare at night without electricity is challenging. Sometimes when your phone battery is low, you need to go to another town to charge it. If you’re not able to go to the nearest town to charge it, it means you won’t get light for the day.’’

Without electricity at the facility, even basic communication requires travel.

“Because I can’t charge my phone here, I have to leave it in Mumuni to charge. So sometimes when I need to refer patients or need to communicate with the Directorate, I have to close the facility and visit in person”

The absence of power affected both clinical care and coordination. Vaccine storage was not possible on-site. Referrals were delayed when communication failed. Night-time care was delivered under severe limitations.

“A community without light is like being blind. You can’t function properly.”

The challenges extended beyond the consulting room. The nurse’s accommodation had no reliable lighting, meaning the same constraints followed her after working hours.

“If I get access to light, it will help me in many ways and improve the services we provide. Cases that I have to refer due to lack of electricity, I will be able to store my vaccines in a refrigerator. It will make my work more convenient for me and I get to charge my phone at the facility without travelling.”

Until recently the CHPS operated from a privately owned structure within the community. However, the owner has since reclaimed the building, in effect evicting the health centre. In response, the community mobilised to build a new CHPS structure using the traditional building method of cob (clay, sand and straw) on a bamboo frame. The plastering and painting were being completed while we installed the solar power system. As of February 27th the building is completed, the nurse has moved into the accommodation, and the health centre has moved its operations to this new building.

24-hour power

The 2.5 kW solar and battery storage system we installed is designed to power:

• Lighting across consultation and treatment rooms

• Night-time emergency services

• Charging of essential medical and communication devices

• The nurse’s accommodation at the CHPS compound

Additionally, we installed a solar powered vaccine fridge at a nearby location, central to three of the five health centres taking part in this project. This will significantly reduce the time and energy required to collect vaccines.

For the first time, the clinic can operate consistently both day and night without depending on external charging sources or generator fuel.

New Skills within the Community

To ensure long-term sustainability of the system, four community members were selected by local leaders to receive hands-on training during the installation. Among them were Frank Gyaba and James Coach, both residents of Aworabo who were nominated for their reliability and active roles within the community.

During the installation process, they assisted with:

• Mounting solar panels

• Running wiring

• Connecting inverters and batteries

• Basic system testing and troubleshooting

They will now serve as first-line caretakers of the system, monitoring performance and addressing minor issues before Dream Renewables conducts routine follow-ups.

What stood out most to the technical team was their enthusiasm. One of our technicians reflected on how surprised he was by how quickly the trainees grasped the technical concepts. He shared that the willingness of the community members to learn, and how easily they adapted to the installation process, exceeded expectations.

As part of the project, each beneficiary community was asked to nominate two to three members to attend Dream Renewables’ Certified Solar Technician Training Programme in Kumasi this March.

From Aworabo, Frank Gyaba and James Coach were selected.

The programme will provide both theoretical and practical instruction in solar PV design and installation and energy assessment. On completion, participants will receive certification.

This additional training means that Aworabo will not only have a functioning solar system at its CHPS compound, but also two community members with technical training who can support ongoing maintenance and respond to basic system issues locally.

Expected impact across the five Clinics

At these five CHPS compounds, the introduction of 24-hour solar power is expected to influence service delivery, patient confidence, and staff stability in several measurable ways:

Increased Vaccine Administration

Previously, vaccines could not be stored safely at the facility. Health workers had to travel long distances to access them, which limited availability and delayed immunisation sessions. With on-site cold storage now possible, vaccination schedules can be adhered to more consistently.

Increased Antenatal Care (ANC) Attendance

Maternal health services depend heavily on trust and accessibility. With reliable lighting and power for medical devices, nurses can confidently manage antenatal visits and monitor expectant mothers day or night.

In communities where night-time emergencies previously posed significant risk due to poor lighting, families often delayed seeking care. Reliable electricity reduces that hesitation. When women know they can receive safe, well-lit care at any hour, attendance improves.

Increased Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) Attendance

Child Welfare Clinics rely on consistent vaccine storage, record keeping, and scheduled service days. Power interruptions previously disrupted these services.

With uninterrupted electricity, record systems remain functional, vaccines remain viable, and clinic days proceed as planned. Over time, this reliability strengthens caregiver confidence and increases attendance.

Increased Outpatient Attendance

Before solar installation, service hours were effectively dictated by daylight. Once evening fell, visibility and safety concerns limited operations.

With constant lighting, the CHPS compound can now attend to patients after sunset; this is particularly critical for emergencies, malaria cases, and maternal care. Extended functional hours are likely to translate into higher outpatient attendance.

Extended Clinic Opening Hours and Improved Staff Efficiency

Health workers previously spent valuable time travelling to collect vaccines or charge essential devices. This reduced the time available for patient care.

With electricity now available on-site, that time is reclaimed. Nurses can dedicate more hours to consultations, outreach, and follow-ups rather than logistics.

Improved Staff Retention and Morale

Living conditions significantly influence rural staff retention. Reliable lighting in the nurses accommodation improves safety, comfort, and overall wellbeing.

When staff feel supported and equipped, morale improves, and with it the likelihood that skilled professionals remain in rural postings.

Evidence from our Previous Projects

Juantuakrom CHPS Compound solar power system

These projections are not theoretical.

At Juantuakrom CHPS, where Dream Renewables installed a comparable solar system, the impact was measurable within one year:

• 32% increase in general vaccine administration due to reliable cold-chain storage

• Increase in numbers of people attending Antenatal Care

• Increase in numbers of people attending Child Welfare Clinic

• Improved staff morale and stability

The pattern is clear: when rural health facilities are equipped with reliable electricity, service delivery stabilises, patient confidence grows, and attendance increases.

Prior to the solar installation, the CHPS compound operated with two nurses. Six months after the system became operational, an additional nurse was posted to the facility, increasing staff capacity.

According to the District Health Directorate, the availability of reliable electricity played a significant role in this development. Historically, rural areas are often declined staff due to difficult living and working conditions, particularly the absence of power. With stable lighting, functional equipment, and electrified accommodation, the facility has now become a more viable and acceptable workplace.

Aworabo, Mmrakrom, Brekum and Ohiampeanika now have the same enabling infrastructure.

With consistent power, trained local caretakers, and strengthened facility capacity, the foundation for similar improvements is firmly in place.

Key Challenges and Lessons Learned

Following project completion, the team conducted an internal review to strengthen future delivery and risk management.

Road Access and Mobility
Access to all five(5) communities was severely affected by poor and often unmotorable road networks, especially during the rainy season. On multiple occasions, vehicles became stuck, and team members continued journeys on motorbikes to reach project sites.

Communication Constraints

Limited mobile network connectivity and the absence of electricity complicated coordination with nurses, community leaders and stakeholders. Charging communication and media devices was an ongoing challenge in off-grid settings.

Compressed Project Timeline and Physical Fatigue

The project schedule was highly intensive, with activities occurring in quick succession, limiting adequate rest between phases.

Inadequate Accommodation Facilities

Most beneficiary communities lacked appropriate accommodation. The team frequently lodged in distant towns and travelled long distances daily. In some cases, overcrowded sleeping arrangements and lack of electricity affected rest and wellbeing.

Lessons for Future Implementation

The experience has strengthened Dream Renewables’ operational planning and risk management framework. Key improvements for future projects include:

• Incorporating realistic timelines with built-in contingency days and structured rest periods to maintain team wellbeing.

• Strengthening mobility planning, including alternative transport arrangements and enhanced travel risk assessments for remote deployments.

• Integrating portable power stations, additional battery storage and expanded media equipment capacity into project budgets for off-grid operations.

• Prioritising accommodation planning and welfare considerations, including contingency lodging solutions where necessary.

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