Kenya is preparing to receive its first solar-powered ambulances to boost healthcare in remote areas.
A new innovation to support medical services in Africa
Written by: Mohamed Ragab
Kenya is preparing to receive its first fully solar-powered ambulances, in a move aimed at improving access to health services in remote areas suffering from poor infrastructure, high fuel costs and difficulty accessing medical facilities.
The new ambulance, named “Stella Juva”, was developed by a team of students from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, in collaboration with the AMREF Health Africa Foundation, to be a mobile vehicle that provides direct medical care to patients in remote areas, rather than simply transporting them to hospitals.
It is solar-powered and serves hard-to-reach areas.
The ambulance relies on solar panels mounted on its roof to power the engine and medical equipment inside, and it also contains a battery that ensures it continues to operate even in the absence of sunlight or during nighttime hours.
The vehicle can travel up to about 715 kilometers in sunny conditions, has a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour, and is designed to suit rough roads and hard-to-reach areas in many African countries.
Complete medical equipment inside the vehicle
The ambulance includes a range of medical devices that enable health teams to provide field diagnostic and treatment services, including devices for tuberculosis testing, vaccine storage at appropriate temperatures, ultrasound devices for monitoring pregnant women, as well as other medical equipment that helps provide health care without the need for a nearby hospital.
The project developers hope that this innovation will help reduce the health gap in rural areas, where residents sometimes have to travel long distances to access basic medical care.
Field trials in Kenya during August
The ambulance is scheduled to arrive in Kenya during August to conduct its first field trials in collaboration with Amerif Health Africa, where its efficiency in providing health services within rural areas will be tested and a number of medical scenarios will be simulated, such as examining tuberculosis patients and providing primary care.
Those in charge of the project believe that the success of the trials may open the door to producing this type of vehicle on a wider scale to serve communities that lack regular healthcare services.
A step towards a more sustainable future
Experts confirm that solar-powered ambulances represent a new model that combines medical innovation and clean energy, contributing to lower operating costs and reduced carbon emissions, while improving access to healthcare in the most underserved areas.
The project developers hope that the success of the experiment in Kenya will encourage other African countries to adopt similar solutions, thereby enhancing the ability of health systems to reach populations in remote areas more efficiently and sustainably.
