Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors without Borders work in more than 75 countries to provide lifesaving assistance where it is needed the most. Photo courtesy MSF
The initiative, launched by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in October 2024 under the name Green Power for Health, involved a major expansion and rehabilitation of the hospital’s solar photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure.
The upgraded system includes additional solar panels, modern inverters, and real-time monitoring tools.
The hybrid grid-tied installation is rated at 60kW/30kW and is designed to provide consistent energy while significantly lowering both operational costs and carbon emissions.
Before the upgrade, the hospital’s MSF-supported wards depended heavily on diesel generators, consuming thousands of litres of fuel every month.
This created substantial running expenses and contributed to air pollution in the area.
It also conflicted with MSF’s broader environmental targets, which include cutting the organisation’s carbon emissions by half by 2030, compared to 2019 levels.
The new system offers stable power for essential hospital functions and introduces internet-connected tools that allow staff to track energy use, system performance, and efficiency in real time.
This capability supports preventive maintenance and long-term sustainability.
Mohsin Rafiq, MSF Project Coordinator in Mudug, said that the solar installation helps ensure uninterrupted care delivery.
“The climate crisis isn’t just an environmental issue—it directly impacts human health, particularly in vulnerable regions like Mudug,” he said.
“With this solar initiative, we’re not only significantly cutting our carbon emissions but also ensuring a reliable and continuous healthcare service, especially during climate-induced emergencies.”
The project comes at a time when Somalia is facing intensifying climate-related challenges.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) identifies Somalia as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change globally.
The country continues to experience prolonged droughts, floods, and rising temperatures—environmental changes that directly impact public health outcomes.
These climate shocks have contributed to an increase in cases of malnutrition, cholera, and malaria.
Health facilities such as Mudug Regional Hospital face growing pressure to deliver consistent services during emergencies, often in contexts where the power supply is unstable.
MSF states that the Green Power for Health initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve environmental sustainability across its operations.
By reducing dependence on diesel generators, the organisation aims to lower its environmental footprint while improving healthcare system resilience, particularly during climate-induced disruptions.
The Galkayo project is expected to serve as a model for similar interventions in other parts of Somalia.
According to MSF, expanding sustainable healthcare infrastructure is particularly critical in regions where energy insecurity and climate-related health threats are converging.
The upgraded solar system supports basic functions including lighting, refrigeration for medicines and vaccines, and critical medical equipment—all of which are essential during emergencies.
With climate-related shocks disrupting infrastructure across Somalia, consistent power access has become an urgent requirement for many health facilities.
The initiative reflects a broader push within the humanitarian sector to integrate climate adaptation strategies into health programming.
It also underscores the operational advantages of renewable energy in remote or crisis-affected areas, where fuel supply chains may be unreliable or expensive.
“The frequent and intense climate shocks Somalia experiences compound existing healthcare crises, leaving vulnerable communities even more exposed,” said Rafiq.
“Renewable energy solutions like the upgraded solar system in Galkayo enable us to respond effectively to these challenges.”
While the long-term impact of the Green Power for Health initiative will be assessed over time, the early outcome at Mudug Regional Hospital highlights the potential for solar infrastructure to address both environmental and healthcare delivery challenges in climate-affected regions.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).
About Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) translates to Doctors without Borders.
MSF medical teams work in more than 75 countries to provide lifesaving assistance where it is needed the most.
It is a private, international association.
The association is made up mainly of doctors and health sector workers and is also open to all other professions that might help in achieving its aims.
