The Sulayman Jungkung General Hospital

As one of only four hospitals serving the Gambia, rural Sulayman Jungkung General Hospital is a wonder: the brick-and-mortar is complete, equipment and supplies are in-place, and the 200-member staff is dedicated to serving their patients. Built by the Gambian government (with international funding assistance) in 2003, SJGH's 200 beds are expected to serve a regional population of over 100,000 Gambians in the area around Bwiam.

SJGH offers a full-range of patient care, from pharmacology, dental and ophthalmologic services to counseling and disease treatment, to over 16,000 patients annually. They treat the biggest killers in the Gambia: malaria, HIV/AIDS, diarrhea, and Hepatitis B. SJGH also sends out trekking teams to remote villages, providing healthcare services to people who can't travel to SJGH.

And yet, SJGH is itself critically ill: it has generator power less than 10 hours each day. Reliable electricity, such a staple of our culture, is for now just a dream in the Gambia.

The lack of reliable electricity affects SJGH in so many ways.

• Diagnostic and laboratory services are minimal. Malaria, by far the most common disease that the hospital encounters, is diagnosed by placing a blood sample under a light microscope powered by electricity. Without a proper diagnosis, proper treatment must wait for SJGH patients.
• Medical equipment cannot be operated, or even considered. The ultrasound machine can only be used sporadically and SJGH does even own an incubator since reliable electricity is required for its operation.
• The water supply is unreliable. Myriad sanitary problems demand water. From hand washing to scrubbing in for surgery, a basin of water is often the only option.
• The mortuary can not be operated, and in a country with high temperatures and high levels of communicable diseases, this is particularly problematic.
• Phones, computers and similar administrative equipment are available for 10 hours daily.
• Enlarging the hospital or expanding its programs is severely constrained. Though it was designed as a teaching hospital, SJGH can not fulfill that role without reliable electricity.

SJGH has considered several options for ensuring reliable power. Most obviously, they could continuously operate their generator. It costs SJGH over $36,000 annually to power their generator for only 10 hours per day. Constant power would increase the cost to $86,000 per year, year after year. This money is simply unavailable.

The Gambia is a poor nation with average annual incomes of US$350. Each consultation costs each patient $0.06 a high price for most Gambians, but resulting in only $50 revenue per month for SJGH. The Gambian government subsidizes all other operating costs.

SJGH believes that the answer lies in renewable energy, namely, solar power. A basic, yet well-designed, solar power system would provide reliable electric power with extremely low annual operating costs. Solar panels, photovoltaic cells and the like will combine to provide electricity day and night, year after year.

Power Up Gambia! recognizes that solar power's upfront capital cost of $300,000 is infinitely beyond the reach of SJGH and the Gambia. We have independently researched and evaluated solar power for SJGH, and supports SJGH's position that renewable energy must be part of the solution. Power Up Gambia! is working with a vetted solar power system provider, GamSolar, to design and install solar power for SJGH. We are working on our capital campaign and we need your help to raise $300,000 to Power Up Gambia!