Selected
Equitable Health Systems

Light Every Birth

We Care Solar designs and delivers solar power solutions to energy-deficient frontline health facilities to save lives in childbirth.

Team Leader
Laura Stachel
We Care Solar designs and delivers solar power solutions to energy-deficient frontline health facilities to save lives in childbirth.

The Problem

Globally, 300,000 women and one million newborns die from pregnancy complications each year. Deaths could be prevented with access to emergency obstetric care. With 59% of health facilities in low-and-middle-income countries lacking reliable electricity, midwives struggle, using candlelight or kerosene, hospitals cannot perform critical procedures, or patients are turned away.

The Solution

Responding to the critical need for light, electricity, and safe childbirth in frontline health facilities, We Care Solar launched Light Every Birth, an international initiative featuring award-winning Solar Suitcases, capacity-building programs, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Solar Suitcases are compact, rugged, institutional-grade solar electric systems designed for maternal healthcare. These easy to install and maintain solutions include power generation and storage, bright 70,000 LED medical lights, customized rechargeable headlamps, a fetal heart rate monitor and installation hardware. Maintenance-free lithium ferrous phosphate batteries are easily replaced after five years.

We Care Solar launched Light Every Birth to address energy poverty at the systems level. The organization works with governments and NGOs to identify energy-poor public health centers, equip them with sustainable technology, lead technical training on solar installation, operation and servicing, and create an ecosystem of support. Our programs foster local ownership and ensure long-term sustainability.

Stats

Light Every Birth has reached 19.9 million mothers and newborns across its partner health facilities.

What is the name of your organization?
We Care Solar
What is the name of your solution?
Light Every Birth
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
We Care Solar designs and delivers solar power solutions to energy-deficient frontline health facilities to save lives in childbirth.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Kampala
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
—
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
—
What specific problem are you solving?
Globally, 300,000 women and one million newborns die from pregnancy complications each year. Deaths could be prevented with access to emergency obstetric care. With 59% of health facilities in low-and-middle-income countries lacking reliable electricity, midwives struggle, using candlelight or kerosene, hospitals cannot perform critical procedures, or patients are turned away.
What is your solution?
Responding to the critical need for light, electricity, and safe childbirth in frontline health facilities, We Care Solar launched Light Every Birth, an international initiative featuring award-winning Solar Suitcases, capacity-building programs, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Solar Suitcases are compact, rugged, institutional-grade solar electric systems designed for maternal healthcare. These easy to install and maintain solutions include power generation and storage, bright 70,000 LED medical lights, customized rechargeable headlamps, a fetal heart rate monitor and installation hardware. Maintenance-free lithium ferrous phosphate batteries are easily replaced after five years. We Care Solar launched Light Every Birth to address energy poverty at the systems level. The organization works with governments and NGOs to identify energy-poor public health centers, equip them with sustainable technology, lead technical training on solar installation, operation and servicing, and create an ecosystem of support. Our programs foster local ownership and ensure long-term sustainability.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our target population includes (1) expectant mothers and their newborns, (2) rural healthcare workers, and (3) families in need of frontline health services. These beneficiaries typically live in impoverished rural communities in Africa and Southeast Asia.The Solar Suitcase is typically mounted to the wall and used as a primary source of light and power for smaller health facilities. It is used as a back-up source of power for hospital delivery rooms and operating theaters with sporadic power. The quality of medical care significantly improves after Solar Suitcase installation. With improved lighting, health workers can assess patients, promptly conduct routine and emergency procedures (including c/sections), maintain good hygiene, institute infection control protocols, and monitor patients throughout the night. The fetal Doppler allows health workers to assess fetal well-being during labor and detect distress. Improved phone charging ensures that emergency consultations and referrals happen when needed.

Organization Type:
Nonprofit

Headquarters:
Kampala, Uganda

Stage:
Scale

Working In:
Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania

Solution Website:
www.wecaresolar.org

Solution Team:
Laura Stachel
Laura Stachel
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Samantha Parsons
Samantha Parsons
Ambrose Muhwezi
Ambrose Muhwezi
Amy Donhauser
Amy Donhauser
Director of Global Programs