A UAE-backed sustainability initiative has expanded access to healthcare for more than 200,000 people in rural India through six solar-powered primary health centers in Karnataka.
Delivered through the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s Beyond2020 initiative in partnership with the SELCO Foundation, the project equips the facilities with renewable energy systems to support healthcare services in areas with unreliable electricity.
The centers use solar power for maternal and neonatal care, vaccine refrigeration, diagnostics and telemedicine. Battery systems provide up to two days of backup power during outages, while a solar-powered mobile clinic brings services to remote villages.
The deployment aims to address challenges including long travel distances, limited specialist care and inconsistent electricity supplies in rural communities.
Beyond2020 is the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s flagship impact program, working with former prize winners to scale sustainability solutions in developing communities. The program has completed 19 projects across Asia, Africa and Latin America, reaching more than 429,800 people through healthcare, energy, food and clean water initiatives.
Colombia will host the program’s 20th deployment, according to the announcement.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
