Having reliable solar electricity is a much-needed necessity for the people of Mougulu; a remote community in the foothills of Mt Bosavi in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province.
Missionary Sally Lloyd, shared upon moments of times people needed this service and recalled a time when a critically ill child, who was admitted to the health centre and was relying on an oxygen concentrator, tragically passed away due to the lack of power supply.
Sally, who is also the daughter of missionary couple, Tom and Salome Hoey, along with her husband, Ian Lloyd, have taken on her parents’ roles in Mougulu, focusing on humanitarian work that promotes and values community development and the surrounding villages.
Their hydroelectric system was damaged by an earthquake several years ago, so in 2020, the Hoeys turned to Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship (CRMF) at the time, which is now Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Technologies, for a solution.
“CRMF assisted both my parents at that time in putting that solar on as one of their final ministries here, and it really helped the health centre and with that, the solar power is now almost running 24 hours a day, powering our vaccine fridges, and providing power for the oxygen concentrators, so everything is run off the power.”
Tony Aima, a local health worker in Mougulu, said that the solar system is useful especially at night, to oversee individuals who have been bitten by snakes and to mothers too who are giving birth at nights.
“Previously, we used torchlights to attend to patients who came in at night, and it was quite difficult to attend to them. But when solar power arrived, it greatly improved our work and lighting system, saving many lives.
In addition to this, Pipiali Falope, a mother of six from a nearby village, expressed her appreciation and sense of certainty that she and her children are getting proper medical care thanks to the availability of 24-hour lighting in the health centre.
“If one of my children becomes ill especially at nighttime, I now know that there is light at the health centre, therefore, I can bring them over to be treated.”
Lelegeme, another mother from the nearby Oglubabim village shared her experience also of giving birth to her first child in the heart of the jungle because there was no adequate medical facility available at that time. However, was grateful and privileged to be able to deliver her other two children safely in a health centre that has proper lighting system.
Moreover, Mougulu Health Centre also acts as a referral centre for many surrounding aid posts and many people by overseeing referrals and providing drugs and other medical necessities. Sally stressed that many times solar has been a lifesaving power source to have in Mougulu.
“It’s pretty amazing really, that we are able to have this resource which is a key to the success at Mougulu Health Centre, and that is to have good health workers, a good health facility, and then have power to be able to maintain all those machines and everything else.”
Meanwhile, MAF Technologies General Manager, Bryan Mathews, also stated that the project was very challenging since the installation happened during the outbreak of Covid-19 when most services were ceased.
“We went through a lot of hurdles just to get in the batteries and panels into Mougulu, eventually we managed to get the equipment in, and the outcome of the installation was very successful,” he said.
“We placed a large power capacity in the health centre so that in the future if they wish to construct extensions or add new medical equipment, the power can accommodate that.”
“In the end, they have a 24/7 clean green energy that is not causing pollution, plus it has cut a lot of fuel cost for the generator since the cost of transporting fuel into Mougulu is high.”