EU Set to Launch Solar-Powered Healthcare Initiative in Five Nigerian States
In a move to boost healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria, the European Union (EU) has announced its readiness to commence the procurement of equipment for a solar-powered healthcare initiative in five selected states. The beneficiary states are Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Ogun, and Plateau.
According to Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria, the project aims to provide reliable and efficient energy supply to healthcare facilities in the selected states.
“We are launching and ready to commence equipment procurement for the five selected states,” De Luca stated during the second steering committee meeting of the Nigeria Solar for Health Project (NSHP) in Abuja.
The NSHP is an EU-funded initiative designed to improve access to healthcare services in Nigeria by providing reliable energy supply to healthcare facilities. The project focuses on expanding access to clean, efficient, and reliable energy supply, which is critical for the effective delivery of healthcare services.
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During the meeting, stakeholders discussed key issues related to the project’s sustainability and operations. According to a Stakeholder Manager at NTU International, “We are channeling strategic discussions around how we can totally address the issue of sustainability and what private sector models are needed to deliver in each state.”
Ibrahim Shehu, representing the Director of Renewable Energy and Rural Access at the Ministry of Power, welcomed the initiative, stating that it would empower healthcare centers, particularly primary healthcare facilities.
“Sustainability is the main issue, and with counterpart findings from the states, there will be a lot of commitments from the states,” Shehu added.
Damilola Otuboujo, Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Special Duties and SDGs, commended the EU for the initiative, stating that it was critical for the state’s healthcare sector.
“We feel privileged to be among the first beneficiaries, and we must ensure that the project does not fail. We want to scale up and expand on this, not just on distribution,” Otuboujo said.
The EU’s commitment to the project is a significant boost to Nigeria’s healthcare sector, which has long been plagued by inadequate energy supply. With the launch of the NSHP, the selected states are poised to experience improved healthcare services, thanks to reliable and efficient energy supply.
