Solar street lighting is gaining traction globally as the world looks for eco-friendly and sustainable energy sources. They harness solar power during the day, store it in batteries and use it at night, thus, eliminating the need for grid electricity.
Pundits for solar street lighting praise them for: cost savings, independence and reliability, easy installation and flexibility, environmental friendliness; and versatility and smart features.
Here in Tanzania, we are witnessing street after street being installed with solar street lighting to the delight of many citizens and street users. This was the case some two or three weeks ago when a stretch on about one kilometre of the road towards Mbweni Village in Dar es Salaam was adorned with street lights in a project that was implemented at supersonic speed. The day the lights were switched on, sections of the street that were dark and frightening suddenly came to life.
This happiness however, soon turned into doubt, since on day 2 of the switch on, at least one of the street lights went dead. As I write as on now, at least 15 of these newly installed lights have gone dark. If this situation persists, we are likely to see darkness reclaiming its space, this time, joined by ghost, dark street light poles.
This situation can be seen in a stretch from Mwenge to Morocco, where, solar street lights installed some 5 years ago have gone dead and large sections of the street stand in darkness at night. In the Mlongawima area, the story repeats itself. At least 17 of the street lights are just standing there forlorn, emitting no light.
Are street lights supposed to live that short? According to some sources consulted, on average, a well-designed and properly maintained solar street light can have a lifespan of 10-20 years; although some parts, like batteries may need replacing in a shorter time span. Clearly, what we are buying for our streets as well as our homes, and which packs up within a short period is not the best quality. How are we to know?
Shops selling solar power equipment, which have sprung up everywhere, just have a simple language, about the wattage (which, is in most cases exaggerated), number of bulbs, price (you are told that you get a discount), and a suspicious six months or one year guarantee. Nothing technical.
There are some basics that one needs to know about street lights and what salespersons do not tell you.
One, is the source of the light, noting that solar-powered lamp sources come up with several options: energy-saving lamps; LED lamps; induction lamps and sodium lamps. LED lamps are taunted as the better choice.
Two is the type of storage battery, since all solar lights are powered by batteries, of which there are two types: Lithium and Lead-acid. Of the two, lithium batteries are better, having a longer lifespan, and stronger resistance to temperature.
Other factors to consider include temperature and latitude, heat dissipation performance, illumination levels; temperature of the black lamp housing; the controller; the sensors; the solar controller; and the solar panel.
When it comes to their structure solar street lights can be divided into two types: integrated and semi-integrated. The integrated ones are compact and easy to mount. They are ideal for lighting smaller roads, sidewalks, gardens, residential areas and other locations where simplicity and ease of installation are key factors to consider.
In the semi-integrated type, the solar panels are separate from the lighting fixtures. These are suitable for larger roads, parking lots, squares and areas which demand higher lighting.
From a layman’s observance, semi-integrated types are the better choice. Chances, they capture more of the sun energy, and, with a more powerful battery, they can provide better illumination which can last the whole night without becoming dim or switching itself off. Permanent glare, which does not change by sensing movement or heat may be a better choice.
The height of the solar street lights may be an issue of consideration. In residential streets and pathways, a height of 4.5 meters is recommended, while in larger streets, 6 meters is recommended.
At this stage, when solar lighting is new in our economy, experts and public regulatory authorities must come to the rescue of the public, to educate them to make the right choice. It is unfair to leave them (us) to the whims of traders who are there to fill their pockets as fast as possible, from selling substandard goods.
Contractors may install substandard street lights, relying on sellers, without having official guidelines. This will almost mean public money going down the drain; and a disappointed society.
As for us, the public, we need to educate ourselves on what a good solar system is composed of, so that we make informed choices; otherwise we stand to lose a lot of money, or losing out on the good qualities of solar lighting.
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Inside Tanzania’s Life-Saving Birthcare Model
Tanzania is winning the battle against maternal and newborn deaths, as the latest numbers reveal a significant decline.
“Tanzania is committed to reducing maternal and newborn mortality and ensuring safe deliveries as part of the national development plan. The Safer Births Bundle of Care is one of the key strategies supporting this effort,” said Dr. Benjamin Kamala, the Senior Research Scientist at Haydom Lutheran Hospital and Principal Investigator for the program, leading its implementation across five regions in Tanzania.
A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the innovative health program in Tanzania – centered on regular, on-the-job training for healthcare workers – reduced maternal deaths by 75% and early newborn deaths by 40%. The three-year study, conducted across 30 high-burden healthcare facilities in Tanzania, tracked approximately 300,000 mother-baby pairs under the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) programme. The programme focuses on improving care for mothers and babies during the day of birth, the critical time when a woman goes into labor and delivers her baby.
Maternal health is a key focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Target 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Tanzania’s program combines continuous, simulation-based training for frontline healthcare workers alongside innovative clinical tools to improve labour monitoring (fetal heart rate monitoring) and newborn resuscitation.It also uses data to drive ongoing improvements, ensuring that healthcare workers have the skills, confidence, and competence to manage birth-related complications for both mothers and newborns.
“We work closely with healthcare workers, equipping them with the necessary tools to improve the quality of care, ensuring they can effectively manage both mothers and babies during and after childbirth,” Dr. Kamala said, which helps them build on over a decade of innovative research and collaboration to improve care during childbirth.
“To give you a sense of the scale of the burden of maternal and newborn mortality in Tanzania when the Safer Births Bundles of Care program was in early development in 2015/16, there were around 556 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 25 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births,” he said.
The published study demonstrates the “transformative impact” of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program conducted across 30 hospitals in five high-burden regions of Tanzania, where there were about 300,000 mother-baby pairs.
Maternal deaths at the start of the program were recorded at 240 per 100,000 live births, with postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders being the leading causes of death, he said. Over the 24-month study period, this number dropped to approximately 60 per 100,000 live births, representing a 75% reduction. The number of newborn deaths – which are primarily due to breathing difficulties and complications related to prematurity – declined by 40% – from 7 deaths per 1,000 live births to 4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“These results are remarkable,” Dr. Kamala said.
According to Dr. Kamala, the 75% reduction in maternal deaths was not expected, and a key lesson was the important role of the in-situ team simulations – including for postpartum bleeding – with reflective debriefings that trained facilitators led.
“This seems to be a major part of the success of the program,” he said. “We are delighted by these results and hope that other countries adopt and scale the Safer Births Bundle of Care program… Beyond the numbers, the Safer Births Bundle of Care program has fostered a dramatic culture shift in our healthcare system,” he said. “Healthcare workers are now more confident and better equipped to handle birth-related complications for both mothers and babies.”
Maternal death drop
Dr. Kamala attributed the 60-70% reduction in newborn deaths in Geita and Manyara to several factors.
“Firstly, Manyara was the first site for implementation, giving the region more time to adapt and experience the impact of the program. Most importantly, both regions had a high burden of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, making them ideal targets for focused intervention. As a result, newborn deaths decreased by 60-70%, showcasing a clear positive impact on newborn survival,” he said.
Dr. Kamala said another possible explanation is the differences in the culture of practices, where some health facilities reported inaccurate data due to the fear of blame and shame. However, with the project’s implementation, reporting became more accurate after mplementation. Some regions, such as Tabora, reported an increase in the number of referrals to the study hospitals from other care centers after the program was implemented. These were more likely to be late admissions, which increase the likelihood of poor health outcomes, he said.
After the implementation of the program, there was a 40% decrease in newborn deaths within the first 24 hours after birth, according to the study.
Dr. Kamala said Tanzania’s remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality by 80% is driven by strategic investments and innovative programs focused on improving maternal and child survival rates.
“Over 2,000 new healthcare facilities have been developed, free health services are being provided to expectant mothers and children under the age of five, and emergency obstetric care – including better transport to hospitals in rural areas are helping to ensure timely, life-saving interventions.
“Most importantly, the Ministry of Health works in collaboration with healthcare workers, hospitals, and development partners to strengthen the skills of frontline healthcare workers, which has been a key factor in driving this progress.
“Political leadership, alongside strategic partnerships and financing, has been crucial in driving progress in maternal and newborn health,” he said.
The program was made possible by the support of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents, Norad, UNICEF, and Laerdal Global Health, as well as the Ministry of Health and Haydom Lutheran Hospital. Their partnership and investment enabled the scaling of the Safer Births Bundle of Care to 30 hospitals and supported the research. “The government has now scaled the program to over 150 sites, and there are plans for further expansion to three regions this year and then nationally,” he said.
Dr. Kamala outlined key policy recommendations for other governments can adopt to prioritize maternal health.
“Firstly, it focuses on cost-effective and relatively simple interventions that are essential to preventing maternal and newborn deaths. For example, stronger primary healthcare that is delivered in the community and a well-trained healthcare workforce are also critical. Additionally, working in close collaboration with national, regional, and local health authorities is key.”
He said Tanzania’s approach, where the Safer Births Bundle of Care program was successfully scaled and sustained by aligning the initiative with national guidelines for obstetrical and newborn care. In addition, the creation of mentorship programs and regular supervision has helped to sustain the results.
Looking ahead
Tanzania now plans to expand to three new regions in 2025, followed by a nationwide rollout.
The success of the program has attracted interest from other countries, with Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Namibia expressing interest in adapting the program to their healthcare system. In Nigeria, the program has already been launched in two states, Gombe and Borno, marking a significant step in its scaling.
Source: allafrica.com
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