Meghalaya govt to power all rural health centres with solar power

• The idea is to improve the functioning of these centres and ensure that last mile delivery in the health sector is achieved using solar power, Health Department's Joint Secretary said
• The Meghalaya state government has partnered with SELCO Foundation to scale the remaining 342 sub-centres and 122 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state 

New Delhi: The Meghalaya state government has installed solar-powered devices in 100 health care centres in remote villages and plans to cover all rural health centres under the solar power scheme, said an official on Saturday. The idea is to improve the functioning of these centres and ensure that last mile delivery in the health sector is achieved using solar power, Health Department Joint Secretary in the Meghalaya state government, Ram Kumar added. He said that solar-powered devices have been installed in rural health care centres across 11 districts as part of a pilot programme under the National Health Mission. 

As part of the programme, energy-efficient equipment like radiant warmer, suction apparatus, spotlight, solar direct drive vaccine refrigerator and luminaries, were installed and made functional, said the official who also heads the National Health Mission.

Remaining 342 sub-centres, 122 PHCs to be covered

The Meghalaya state government has partnered with SELCO Foundation to scale the remaining 342 sub-centres and 122 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state to meet the health needs of people in remote, rural areas. Site assessment is in progress at all these centres to ensure last mile health care facilities in Meghalaya, said Kumar.

The Health Joint Secretary said that having consistent power available in heath care centres builds confidence among people about the services provided by the system. He said that the intervention will greatly benefit from solar energy that can power critical healthcare services, including immunisation, maternal care, deliveries, diagnostics, among others. Kumar added that the aim is to ensure that these health centres, irrespective of their remoteness, provide consistent power and 24×7 services to people.

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