The grid in Kaduna state has limited rural coverage and is unreliable in places that it does reach, providing an average of 3 or 4 hours of electricity a day to connected rural communities. Through the partnership between Konexa, the Kaduna State Government (KDSG) and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, under the A2E program. Konexa intends to electrify select communities throughout Kaduna state including households and healthcare facilities. In addition to electrification, some Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) lack basic medical equipment and Konexa would be working with KDSG to provide the needed support to the PHCs selected to enhance healthcare delivery.

Project: Community and Healthcare clean energy access in rural Kaduna

Country & region/location: Nigeria, Likora, Ruhogi, Danmalliki, Sabon, Sauki Health Clinics - Kaduna State

Category: Energy & Health

The A2E project will energise 5 PHCs and 375 households in agrarian communities that have never had power from the national grid through an energy-as-a-service business model. As the national grid does not serve these PHCs, healthcare workers are forced to turn on candles, generators, flashlights, etc while working in the night-time labour ward. Households on the other hand rely on dirty fuels like charcoal, petrol and wood for cooking, lighting, and charging. The main source of income within the selected communities are farming and trade with many homes living under the poverty line.

Each PHC and household will be installed with an Okra Kit (lithium batteries, a remote monitoring charge controller, pure sine wave inverter and roof-top solar panels) which would be deployed as a mesh grid, with household in close proximity interconnected via power-sharing lines. The Okra Pod will automatically draw power from nearby houses when required, ensuring consistent energy access. 

As part of the programme design, households will have the opportunity to purchase equipment such as TV, fans and e-cooking appliances and repay the cost of the equipment over time through Konexa’s appliance financing business. For this project, each household will receive a minimum of 4 lights and a power outlet. 

For the Primary Healthcare centres, each will be provided with two XL Okra Kits providing 1.1kwh per day. One kit will power essential energy consumption; the second kit will power medical appliances such as a centrifuge and an equipment steriliser. 

Konexa will install the project with support from local workers. It is expected that two community members will be hired to continue operating and maintaining the systems (Caretakers) in addition to a trader who would manage payments on an ongoing basis (local sales agents). In addition, hospital staff will be provided training on using the medical equipment provided to them as per their needs assessments – leading to capacity development within the community. 

Expected outputs:

• 2.250 individuals (930+ children) will transition to clean energy, resulting in reduced exposure to toxic fumes
• Enhanced healthcare access and extended business hours due to available lighting
• 5 PHCs have new equipment sterilisation machines, saving staff time and improving the quality of service
• 375 households and the surrounding community have enhanced access to information through enhanced ability to charge mobile phones, power radios, and TV
• Stimulate economic growth 
• Hire of local staff during implementation and for operation

Impact (results)