Create 20 Community Owned Businesses In Nigeria

Exciting news at Nagari Medical Clinic! We're thrilled to announce with the help of Leadership Initiatives interns, they’ve gone solar!

President Tinubu's decision to end Nigeria’s fuel subsidy had severe consequences, with gas stations tripling prices overnight. This policy created a domino effect of increased costs for transportation, electricity, and food for millions of people. Healthcare facilities were already strained and faced a dire situation as the cost of energy, drugs, and retaining health workers skyrocketed.

The Nagari Medical Clinic, a vital healthcare provider in the Federal Low-Cost district in Bauchi, saw its energy costs surge, jeopardizing its ability to offer affordable care. Like most individuals, businesses, and healthcare facilities in Nigeria, Nagari was forced to use generators to power their clinic as their primary source of electricity due to the inconsistent supply of energy from the National Electricity Grid. The clinic’s average spending on energy supply increased more than 400% in the last six months alone.

The rising expenses could not be easily absorbed by patient bills. Most patients faced financial constraints of their own, earning an average monthly wage of about $30 USD. The increased health expenses threatened to make many medical services unattainable for patients, especially with over 90 percent of the population lacking coverage from the National Health Insurance.

The increase in fuel costs created extensive impacts on the Nagari Medical Clinic. Forced to pay over 25% more for drugs and consumables, higher operating costs for life-saving machinery, and increasing costs for travel of doctors and nurses, the clinic had to restrict access for patients. It started closing at sunset to avoid increased electrical costs and limited access to high-energy machines like X-ray machines. Diagnosis and treatment had to be delayed until daylight hours, and the storage of crucial medicines and vaccines was affected.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Leadership Initiatives worked with interns from its International Internship Program and embarked on a mission to alleviate the Nagari Medical Clinic's challenges. Interns called upon their communities to participate in the GlobalGiving Little by Little Fundraising Campaign, collecting small donations from over 1,000 supporters in September. This proved to be a turning point – the funds raised were instrumental in acquiring 40 400-watt Solar Panels, lithium-ion batteries, and a 15KVA/240v Solar Inverter for the clinic.

The installation of solar panels is a major improvement for the Nagari Medical Clinic. The hospital now enjoys a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply through solar energy, marking a significant shift in its operations. The lights are always on, and the medical staff can attend to patients without the hindrance of unreliable electricity. The solar-powered infrastructure ensures the integrity of stored medicine, contributing to the overall improvement of healthcare services. Plus, the solar panels produce electricity in an environmentally sustainable way, eliminating generator emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants that contribute to air pollution and climate change.

Beyond its environmental benefits, the solar initiative translates into economic relief for patients. The hospital's reduced energy costs are reflected in the patient’s bill for a visit, making healthcare more affordable & accessible to the community. With a reduced economic burden, patients are able to seek treatment earlier, allowing for prompt detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

The interns participating in the International Internship Program, with their dedication and the support of their donor networks, our interns have exemplified the power of collective action in addressing critical healthcare challenges. The solar initiative not only reduces the immediate burden on the Nagari Medical Clinic but also sets a precedent for sustainable and environmentally conscious healthcare practices. As the world grapples with evolving challenges, initiatives like these showcase the impact of innovative solutions in creating positive change and promoting resilient communities.