Lots of electricity needed to power a hospital

When you think about some of the largest energy consuming industries in the world, what comes to mind?  Did you put hospitals on your list?  If not, then you should re-think the tremendous electrical demands of the facilities in which we treat our sick and ailing.

Hospitals never sleep.  The lights and heat are on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  There are no days off.  Machines that keep people alive, and premature babies warm are constantly powered.  Their functions are so vital that back-up generators (as well as back-up, back-up generators) have to be standard.

Solar powered hospitals are found in Boulder, Colorado, Sacramento, California, Auburn, California, and Toronto, Canada, among other places.  While in the first world countries like the United States and Canada, the idea of solar powered hospitals is interesting from an energy saving and “green” aspect, in some areas of the world, solar powered hospitals are vital to the health and survival of their patients.

In the following video, a 22-year old woman discusses how she founded “Power Up Gambia” to raise money to pay for solar panels that will provide critical electricity and clean running water to hospitals in the African nation, in close proximity to Senegal.

Illness runs rampant in Africa where health care often lacks electricity

Power Up Gambia was founded in 2006.  Over two years, it has raised over $300,000 to help staff of the Sulayman Junkung General Hospital realize their dream of working with full-time electricity.  As a result, more solar powered hospitals are on the way in the country.  As stated on its web site:

“Inspired by this success — and the profound need for electricity at many healthcare facilities in the Gambia beyond the Sulayman Junkung General Hospital — the Power Up Gambia Board and Kathryn have decided to continue their efforts to provide solar energy to hospitals and clinics throughout the country.  The new phase will begin with the 9 satellite clinics of the hospital, and PUG “…would appreciate your ongoing support as we begin our next phase.”

I don’t know about you, but I am completely in awe of the accomplishments of this young woman in bringing around life-saving change to Gambia through solar power.  If you want to help the efforts to create more solar powered hospitals in Gambia, then please donate, hold a Power Up event, or check out other ways to get involved at the web site.

The world needs more Kathryn Cunninghams!