Solar Power for South Sudan Hospital

Hey guys! We are Jono & Destinee Macleod, Kiwi doctors who have been helping run a Maternity & Paediatrics Hospital for In Deed and Truth Ministries (IDAT) in South Sudan since 2014. In the past 3 years the number of patients treated in our hospital has tripled, from 14,000 in 2014 to 42,000 in 2017. To cope with this rapid growth IDAT have opened a new outpatients unit which is currently seeing 150-200 patients per day, and recently a new ward with 21 beds. Next year we are opening an x-ray unit and hopefully also a laboratory. However….

Unfortunately there is no mains electricity in South Sudan, and to run our 20kW generator for 24hours costs $200! That is over $70,000 per year in fuel if we are to supply lighting for our mothers delivering at night and 24/7 oxygen for the babies admitted with severe respiratory infections (we often have 4 or 5 babies sharing our one oxygen concentrator!).

We are purchasing a solar power unit costing $120,000 to provide a steady and adequate power source for our hospital. This is less than the cost of running the generator for 2 years so will save significant funds in the long term, and having reliable electricity will help equip us to fulfil our dream of combating the high maternal and child mortality rates in South Sudan. Kiwis for South Sudan have generously agreed to raise $30,000 towards this cost and are half way there, meaning we are looking for an additional $15,000 to make this project a reality.

On behalf of the Mothers and Children here in South Sudan… Thank you for your support!!!