by Paul Jaysent Fos, Romblon News/PR | Friday, 10 June 2016
The Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – MIMAROPA provided solar home system technology to three rural health units (RHUs) in barangays Dolores, Bantay and Maniwaya in the province of Marinduque to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the health facilities.
“The installation of solar power system in RHUs is one of the solutions to effectively address the disruption in the delivery of health services during a power interruption,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated.
“An RHU with a stable source of energy can fully provide a continuous supply of electricity to laboratory equipment and refrigeration needed to preserve vaccines, and also prevent disruptions during emergency treatment, birthing, maternity care, surgery and other medical operations,” he further explained.
The three RHUs will be the pilot areas for the feasibility and sustainability of solar powered health care facility in rural areas.
The Solar Home System (SHS) project including installation will funded by DOH-MIMAROPA amounting to P2000,000.00, procurement of supplies and materials will be shouldered by the Department of Science and Technology –MIMAROPA amounting to P30,000.00.
According to Janairo, the system will have a 150 Watts capacity which can operate a refrigerator for 24 hours, 4 electric fans for 8 hours, 12 units of led bulbs for a maximum of 10 hours and a compressor for dental equipment for 6 hours.
“The SHS will soon be installed in all RHUs of the region requiring stable and uninterruptible source of energy, especially in island communities where electricity is a major concern. Delivering primary health care in rural areas also means having to innovate in definite ways—such as building new energy system which also means saving lives,” Janairo concluded.
