The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has successfully executed the installation of a solar power system at the Maar Primary Health Care Centre in the Jonglei area.

As one of its quick impact projects, the peacekeeping mission contracted a local non-governmental organization called Participatory Humanitarian Action for Resilience and Recovery to purchase and install the equipment, to a cost of 50,000 USD.

The solar powered system is currently in a testing and monitoring phase, but patients and staff at the health care centre are already raving about it.

“I thank the UN so much. This will help us a lot, especially women giving birth at night hours because of the availability of light,”, said Atem Arok, a patient at the Maar facilities.

Local health workers stress that the installation of solar power will not only facilitate attending to night time emergencies but also to store drugs in adequate temperatures.

“I am very grateful to the UN mission for its great contribution to our primary health care centre. We have realized the advantages brought by the installation of the solar power system, and the local community is very happy about this support,” said clinical officer David Mayen.

Women beneficiaries are equally pleased with the quick impact project, but they have yet another wish.

“What we still need here is a separate maternal ward for child deliveries at night,” said Boor Kuch Akech, a female resident of Maar.

By the end of March, when the period of testing and monitoring of the solar power system is expected to be over, the project will be handed over to the local community at an official ceremony to be organized by the peacekeeping mission.