Powering Healthcare to Support Covid-19 Response: Best Practices and Lessons from Past and Current Interventions

COVID-19 is bringing into focus the ingrained vulnerabilities of health systems across the world. Long before the pandemic made daily headlines around the world, a lack of reliable power in healthcare facilities has been undermining the quality of healthcare for millions of people, in particular in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia.

Heightened political commitment to strengthening health systems, coupled with recent advances in distributed renewable energy, present a timely opportunity to improve access to quality healthcare and make health facilities more resilient.

In this webinar, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will highlight practical lessons and insights into program design approaches for healthcare facilities electrification, with urgency and sustainability in mind. The event will also highlight emerging efforts to power healthcare facilities as part of the broader COVID-19 response.

Agenda

• Scene-setting presentation (SEforALL/WHO/IRENA)
• Practical examples, focusing on clear and concise lessons and considerations around needs assessments, system design, supply chains, financing and sustainability
• Moderated discussion and audience Q&A

Invited speakers

• Nick Gardner, Country Manager, UNOPS, Sierra Leone
• Gurbuz Gonul, Director, Country Engagement and Partnerships, IRENA
• Huda Jaffer, Director, SELCO Foundation
• Engr. Isaac Kiva, Head, Renewable Energy Directorate, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya
• Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO

Moderator

• Luc Severi, Senior Energy Access Specialist, SEforALL