Country: Mali Source: Médecins Sans Frontières Power generated on the roof of Niafounké Hospital ensures continuous care in a remote area. Solar energy is much more than a technical solution for power outages: In fragile humanitarian contexts, it brings autonomy, resilience, and hope for health facilities and the patients they serve. In the Timbuktu region of northern Mali, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) recently installed solar panels on the roof of Niafounké Hospital, which generate around 60 percent of the hospital’s energy needs. This energy transition ensures better continuity of care in a remote area that is affected by insecurity. Moving closer to energy independence through solar power Niafounké Hospital previously relied almost entirely on a diesel-powered thermal power plant, which was prone to frequent power outages. To maintain health care services, medical teams had to use a generator on a daily basis, at high cost and with limited reliability. The new photovoltaic solar installation has reduced the hospital’s dependence on the generator. Beyond environmental benefits, the reduced energy cost makes it possible to redirect financial resources toward medical care. “This energy transition makes it possible to substantially reduce expenses related to the generator, its maintenance, and the purchase of diesel, allowing more resources to be allocated to patient care, ” says Souleymane Ouattara, Timbuktu project coordinator. “It ensures the continuity of vital care such as the operation of oxygen concentrators in neonatology and pediatrics, surgical and obstetric emergencies, as well as power supply for the laboratory, ultrasound equipment, and the cold chain essential for blood transfusions. ” The installation includes a lithium battery storage system, complemented by a generator. This hybrid system allows the hospital to alternate between solar energy, the city’s power grid, and the generator, ensuring a continuous power supply both day and night. Energy stability improves daily life This project is part of MSF’s Green Initiative, which aims to reduce the environmental footprint of our activities while improving operational efficiency. For several years, MSF has been deploying hybrid photovoltaic solar systems in various countries around the world, particularly in the Sahel region of Africa, to limit dependence on diesel, which is an expensive and polluting energy source that can require complex transport to remote areas. Beyond environmental benefits, the reduced energy cost makes it possible to redirect financial resources toward medical care. Solar energy stabilizes the functioning of laboratories, cold rooms, and essential hospital services, thereby improving working conditions for teams and the quality of care provided to patients. MSF’s work at Niafounké Hospital Since 2019, MSF has been running a pediatric project at Niafounké Hospital providing care for hospitalized children under the age of 15. MSF also supports four community health centers and carries out primary health care and community health activities in isolated villages in the Gourma area of Mali’s Timbuktu region.
From diesel to sunshine: Solar-powered health care in Mali
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