Harnessing the Sun’s Power for Consistent Care

As you enter one of the three operating rooms at Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Zambia (CURE Zambia), you’ll be greeted by the hum of essential life-saving medical devices such as ventilators and anesthesia machines.

This equipment—and everything else requiring electricity at the hospital—is now running largely thanks to a micro-grid solar energy system located on-site that became fully functional in May. 

The new system, generously funded by USAID’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad, eliminates CURE Zambia’s total dependence on the local electrical grid by using solar panels to generate, store, and distribute electricity.

Urgent Need for Alternative Energy

The timing of the solar system has proven critical as Zambia faces an ongoing drought—the worst in 60 years—that’s reduced hydroelectric power, which is responsible for approximately 85 percent of the country’s electricity.

To prevent overloading the electrical grid, the government has scheduled daily power cuts, sometimes lasting 20+ hours a day. Such cuts exacerbate the challenges faced by essential services like hospitals, where stable power is needed to run monitoring equipment and life-support devices for surgery patients.

“Considering the limited water in the country, which leads to hours of no power, solar energy is critical to ensuring we have a continuous power supply for consistent and quality care,” says Frida Kabaso Phiri, CURE Zambia’s Executive Director.

During past power outages, CURE Zambia relied on costly diesel-fueled backup generators. Even brief outages could delay or cancel surgeries and potentially damage equipment. 

The solar power system not only provides consistent energy but is also eco-friendly and cost-effective, as it reduces expenses spent on electricity and generator fuel. What does this mean? CURE Zambia can provide uninterrupted care so more kids with life-limiting disabilities can receive transformative surgery—and heal faster.  

“The US government is proud to partner with organizations like CURE International . . . because every child deserves the opportunity to feel included, to feel safe, and to thrive,” notes Monica Bautista, Deputy Health Office Director for USAID/Zambia.

Increasing Capacity for Greater Impact

The new system comes on the heels of the hospital’s much-needed capacity expansion projects this past spring, including the addition of 15 more beds in a new children’s ward and the opening of a comprehensive Cleft Care Center. The hospital has also added more surgeons and other staff to meet the growing demand for care. 

CURE offers essential services to some of Zambia’s most underserved communities, where surgical care for children with disabilities is often unaffordable, leaving many to suffer unnecessarily for the rest of their lives. 

People with disabilities in these communities often endure worsening poverty, discrimination, and abuse. But timely surgery can break this cycle, offering children a chance at a better future. Last year, CURE Zambia performed more than 3,000 life-changing procedures.

The expansion of the children’s ward and the installation of the solar energy field represent more than just infrastructure improvements. These initiatives ensure that children receive surgical care as soon as possible—children like ten-year-old Rhoda.

Rhoda’s life changed forever when she fell into a pot of boiling water, leaving her with severe burns that healed into stiff scars, making it impossible for her to use her arm or hand.

After life-changing surgery at CURE Zambia, Rhoda can hold a pencil, work a puzzle, and help around the house!

With the new solar energy system, even more children like Rhoda will receive the life-changing care they need.

Thanks to the generous support of partners like you, all surgical and spiritual care is provided at no cost to children living in poverty. Please consider giving a gift today to help more children waiting for life-changing care at a CURE hospital.