Médecins Sans Frontières - WEBCLIP – EN – Solar paneled hospitals in South Kivu

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF298719

Date taken / Date Recorded 16/12/2019 12:00 AM

Country Democratic Republic of Congo

Commissioning section MSF-SPAIN

Photographer / videographer / producer Pablo Garrigos

Copyright Pablo Garrigos/MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) Advertising Campaign, External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★ (E)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m37s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 189.91 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist SCRIPT:
Kingulube - Solar panels_ENG_r

Can you imagine what it's like
operating in the dark?

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At our hospital in Kigulube, in the
Democratic Republic of Congo,

this will not happen again.

Chyron:
Chiara Domenichini
MSF Medical Coordinator

subt
MSF in Congo works in areas
far away from urban centres.

They are in rural areas
in the middle of the jungle

that are very difficult to access.

Obtaining the gasoline

and the logistics needed
for a generator to work is immense

and in these locations
it's very complicated.

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That is why we have installed
solar panels

Chyron
Miguel Balbastre
MSF Energy Specialist

subt
This is a pioneering solar
power system at MSF.

This is the second system.

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We have another hospital
in Kusisa, in the same province

Chyron
Razvan Popa
Logistics Supervisor

subt
With regards the similarities,
it is the same type of system:

100 panels and batteries
of the same capacity.

A total of about 20-25 kilowatts
of power

in photovoltaic energy,
that is totally sustainable.

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To reach their destination,
the panels made a long journey

subt
The solar panels
were acquired in Europe.

They came by boat along the Suez Canal
to Tanzania, to Dar es Salaam.

From Dar es Salaam they were
transported by road to Goma.

From Goma they came
by road or by boat,

dependent on what was possible,
as far as Bukavu.

And from Bukavu we brought them
by helicopter to the helipad.

And from the helipad to here,

two porters
carried each panel by hand.

It was a huge job.

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Is all this effort worth it?

Chyron:
Dr. Pacifique Kapimbu
Director of Kigulube Hospital

subt
For Kigulube General Hospital,
the installation of the new panels

will change healthcare
a lot for our patients.

Before we even used
to operate in the dark,

because not all of the hospital
had electricity.

All hospital rooms will have energy

to care for all patients,

for example, those who need oxygen.

Having a solar power system,

which provides full autonomy
to a hospital in the middle of the jungle,

will mean that all patients
can receive quality care,

with biomedical devices

that will not be affected
by power outages.

Therefore, the care for patients

will not be interrupted either.