Power Up Gambia Blog

Conservation:

My main task at the hospital this month has been the conservation campaign. Since Power Up Gambia has put in the panels, the situation has improved, but we need the staff to help if we are going to get the maximum output from the system. Our campaign took place in three phases. The first involved me going around to staff members and interviewing them to get their ideas on how to reduce the waste of water and electricity, or light, as it’s known here. The more people that we talked to who work in this country, the more evident it became that these ideas need to come from them. We can’t come in and tell them what to do. They need to be included in the process. Most reiterated the need to turn off the lights and water when they’re not in use.

            The next phase of our project consisted of us giving a presentation at the unit heads meeting. Mike and I walked through the basics of what conservation is, why it’s important, and what the current system involves. Kathryn then ran a breakout session where everyone had to come up with ideas to promote conservation. We had worried that people would be reluctant to participate, but once Kathryn asked for ideas, everyone had something to share. There were many ideas and solutions to problems that we hadn’t thought of. I was surprised by the enthusiasm, but excited. It made our jobs a little easier.

            On a side note, I was impressed to see the respect that the unit heads, who are more than twice her age, had for Kathryn. I had been nervous about going to this meeting and telling these adults how they should be doing things, but Kathryn has obviously earned their respect, and people listen to what she has to say. It supports everything else we do here.

            Our third phase involved me going around to the wards again and putting up signs over light switches and faucets to remind people to turn off the light and water when they are done using them. I went around and talked to the staff about the importance of conservation as I taped them up.

             During the three weeks we had there, I think we made a good start on the campaign. We have asked that conservation continue to be brought up at staff meetings to remind people to conserve. While it will take some reminding to get people to change their habits, I think it will happen. Everyone understands perfectly why the conservation is important. They’ve all seen life and death situations where having electricity makes the critical difference. They know what it’s like to have to do rounds by candlelight. While it’s going to take a little work from the administration, I think the hospital is on its way to using its resources efficiently.