Mpilo and UBH Hospitals Receive Major Solar Power Boost
In a significant development for the healthcare sector, Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) have received new 350-kilowatt solar power systems from the Government of Zimbabwe.
This project, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, marks a major stride in improving the reliability and sustainability of Zimbabwe’s public healthcare infrastructure.
The installation of these solar power systems will enable the two hospitals to enhance their operational efficiencies, reduce energy costs, and contribute to broader environmental sustainability goals. For public hospitals operating under tight budgets, this project frees up critical resources that can now be channeled towards other essential medical services and supplies.
“This is a good gesture to us and we are extremely grateful,” said Mr. Trust Mushawarima, the acting clinical director of UBH. “In the long term, the project will drastically cut our electricity cost, and we will even be able to feed into the national grid, saving money that can be directed towards other clinical services.”
In addition to the solar power projects, UNDP is also undertaking two other major initiatives at Mpilo Central Hospital. These include the construction of what is set to be Africa’s first World Health Organisation BSC Level Three certified National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, as well as the setup of a state-of-the-art medical waste incinerator – one of the largest such facilities in the country.
“This project was started four years ago, and we are now trying to move everything to lithium batteries,” said Dr. Ayodele Odusola, the UNDP resident representative to Zimbabwe. “Once it’s done, the responsibility will become that of the Government and the hospitals where the systems are located. We need to sustain, maintain, and expand this as part of the sustainability plan.”
Beyond the healthcare sector, UNDP has also pledged to support the Government of Zimbabwe in constructing 24 dams across Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and Manicaland provinces by 2027, as part of efforts to climate-proof the country’s agriculture.
This multifaceted collaboration between the Government of Zimbabwe and UNDP is a testament to the shared commitment to modernizing the country’s healthcare infrastructure, promoting renewable energy, and building climate resilience – all of which are crucial for the well-being and prosperity of the Zimbabwean people.
