By Josephine Sesay
In a transformative milestone for Sierra Leone’s healthcare and energy sectors, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh commissioned the third phase of the Sierra Leone Healthcare Electrification Project on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Connaught Hospital in Freetown. This initiative delivers sustainable solar energy to ten major hospitals, marking a bold step toward climate resilience and enhanced healthcare access for all citizens.
Phase 3 adds 2.3 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar capacity, elevating the project’s total to 4.3 MWp across 42 health facilities. Launched in 2022 by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) in partnership with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and backed by the UK Government, the project fortifies healthcare infrastructure with reliable, clean electricity, this is more than power it’s a healthcare revolution, enabling extended hours, greater treatment capacity, and saved lives, vice President Jalloh declared.
British High Commissioner H.E. Josephine Gauld praised the achievement: “Sierra Leone’s key hospitals now harness sustainable solar energy, benefiting every citizen, earlier phases electrified six major hospitals, including Masanga and Princess Christian Maternity, plus 25 primary healthcare units, with Kailahun Hospital and rural clinics energized in Phase 2, completed in March 2025.
Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby linked the project to President Bio’s equitable healthcare vision, it turns promises into reality, even for remote areas.” Deputy Minister of Energy II, Dr. Abdul Rahim Jalloh, added, “This isn’t just solar panels—it’s about empowering lives and ensuring no hospital remains dark.” The November 2024 Energy Transition Plan, crafted with SEforALL, supports this shift, reducing diesel use in electrified hospitals by 50% and ensuring continuous operation of vital medical equipment.
SEforALL Country Manager Ngozi Beckley-Lines emphasized the human impact, this project connects communities and leaves a lasting legacy, a three-day technical training, led by EM-ONE Energy Solutions and Alpha ESS, equipped hospital staff with skills for system maintenance. Beneficiaries include Connaught, Rokupa, and Lakka Government Hospitals, specializing in maternal, newborn, and tuberculosis care as Sierra Leone faces climate challenges, this project lights the way to a healthier future
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 18th June, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
