Immune to blackouts: Western Cape rural clinics to get inverters

Clinics are considered the backbone of strong health systems due to emphasis in preventive health, but when load-shedding intensified across the country, many became the epicentres of infection as ventilation equipment and the quality of vaccines that need cold storage were compromised. 

But at least 121 rural clinics in the Western Cape are set to be free from these challenges thanks to the rollout of hybrid inverters that will keep lights on and ensure smooth operations during blackouts. 

The provincial department of health said over the next 12 months it plans to install inverters in every rural primary health centre “to ensure uninterrupted service and to keep equipment functional” during periods of intense load-shedding. In a separate project the department also plans to install solar power to at least 15 hospitals as part of its strategy to incorporate renewable energy in it healthcare facilities. 

Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said phase one of R81m project started last month with the aim to install hybrid inverters in 51 clinics. Phase two will commence soon after the completion of phase one, and that would see 70 facilities with backup power. 

“It is expected that both phases will be completed between now and March 2024. The nature of the project is such that the timelines can shift earlier or later, depending on various issues. However, both phases of all 121 clinics are expected to be completed before the end of the financial year which is the end of March 2024.” 

We have had only one day without blackouts this year. It is a direct threat to the delivery of healthcare services in the Western Cape. This is why we are pushing ahead with these initiatives.

—  Western Cape health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo

Van der Heever said while none of the clinics close during blackouts, many experienced significant delays, including prescription of medication to patients which are mostly issued electronically. Some of the services that are affected by blackouts include telephone lines, ambulance bookings and alarms in clinics that can’t be activated. 

The rural primary healthcare hybrid inverter initiative, which has added backup power to three clinics, “will ensure uninterrupted health services by keeping crucial technology and equipment functional to meet the community's essential primary healthcare requirements”. 

These include:  

• IT equipment for dispensing medicine and handling patient information;
• Fridges for vaccines and medicine storage;
• Ventilation equipment at TB facilities;
• Consultation instrumentation;
• and voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), which allow facilities to be contactable.

Head of department Dr Keith Cloete said: “These urgent interventions are key components of the department’s strategy to incorporate renewable energy into healthcare facilities, ensuring we can provide a service to our clients, regardless of the severity of blackouts.” 

“While we acknowledge this money could have been directed elsewhere, we cannot let our clients go without receiving essential health services due to a facility not having electricity. The department is committed to ensuring our facilities are empowered to look after the health needs of our communities.” 

Van der Heever said the 15 hospitals that would have solar panels installed at the cost of about R80m include Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Paarl, Eerste River, Ceres, George, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Worcester hospitals. 

While all provincial hospitals have diesel generators, the solar power is expected to reduce demand from generators. Only 10 of the provincial hospitals are exempted from load-shedding. 

Western Cape health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said: “Over the past year, blackouts have intensified significantly. We have had only one day without blackouts this year. It is a direct threat to the delivery of healthcare services in the Western Cape. This is why we are pushing ahead with these initiatives, as we cannot sit back and wait for this issue to be resolved.”