Exploring RE to Advance Nigeria’s Health Care Sector

The Nigerian healthcare sector is rapidly deteriorating due to numerous challenges, with the unstable power supply being a core contributor. A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) survey ranked Nigeria’s healthcare system as the fourth worst in the world. Hence, exploring renewable energy (RE) solutions to advance Nigeria’s healthcare sector is crucial.

Energy access is vital to the healthcare sector and critical in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Goal 3, which hopes to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. In emphasizing how vital energy is in saving lives, studies report that more than 289,000 women worldwide die yearly from pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications, many of which could be averted with better lighting and other electricity-dependent medical services. (Sustainable Energy for All 2019). And yet, a recent study analyzed over 121,000 health facilities in 46 low- and middle-income countries and found that almost 60% lacked access to reliable electricity.

Electricity guarantees the operation of critically needed medical devices such as vaccine refrigeration, surgical emergency, laboratory and diagnostic equipment, and basic amenities such as lighting, cooling, ventilation, communications and managing hazardous waste. Electricity is also essential for a clean water supply. Furthermore, inadequate and unreliable access to electricity in healthcare facilities also impacts the accessibility and quality of healthcare services. Opening hours can be limited, and people may feel unsafe, challenging recruiting and retaining staff.

Clean energy has become a veritable tool for combating energy access deficit, a medium for energy transition and fast-tracking economic growth and development in most jurisdictions worldwide. Nigeria is blessed with adequate RE sources such as constant sunlight, sufficient wind pressure, generation of significant bio-waste, and tidal waves in coastal areas. The country-wide adoption of RE can propel the healthcare sector on a path of development and more reliable service.

Additionally, healthcare is a critical sector in Nigeria, and healthcare workers play a significant role in delivering healthcare services to the population. However, with the current power supply situation, healthcare workers face substantial challenges in providing medical services. For example, due to power outages, surgeries must be postponed or cancelled. With RE solutions, healthcare workers can deliver medical services without interruptions, significantly improving job satisfaction.

Another benefit of RE is that it is environmentally friendly. Nigeria’s healthcare sector relies on diesel generators, which produce significant greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. By using clean energy sources, such as solar and wind power, the healthcare sector can significantly reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.

In the united states, hospitals like Gunderson’s health care system have embraced a variety of renewable energy sources to improve local health outcomes while controlling rising energy costs, becoming the country’s first “energy independent” health care system in 2014. This precedent shows that transitioning to clean energy in our health care is possible,

In conclusion, on-grid electricity has proved unreliable and inefficient in catering to the energy needs of the healthcare sector. However, RE can potentially transform Nigeria’s healthcare sector significantly. Providing reliable and affordable power supply to hospitals and health facilities reduces the cost of health care services whilst contributing to economic development and ultimately increasing the life expectancy of the average Nigerian.

Therefore, the Nigerian government should prioritize adopting RE solutions in the healthcare sector by investing in the necessary infrastructure to make it a reality.