SPEAKER_03 0:00

It really gave me a lot of mental instability, reporting daily on issues, on problems that seemed not to be getting any better uh with time or to our reporter. And that was really eating at me until fortunately I was introduced to solution journalism.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

So imagine that you know at that particular moment when woman is taken to the delivery suite and she's pushing, you know, the health workers are there trying to get her to you know deliver the child, they are supporting her, and all of a sudden everybody's back. Okay, so welcome to another edition of Journal Conversations by Nigerian Health Watch. This essentially is where we get to talk to colleagues, you know, experts who are on the ground reporting from different countries across the continent. And the whole idea is simple, right? To learn from each other because we know and we believe that all of the issues that we you know are talking about every day, the conversations that we are championing, that we are trying to advance, um, we are not the only ones facing all of those challenges. From Nigeria to Kenya to Ghana to Zimbabwe to Uganda, South Africa, you know, we are facing similar challenges and we are making efforts, individuals, governments, private sector, academia, you know, just doing what they can as a community, as you know, stakeholders who these issues affect. So the question is how are we learning from each other? How are we promoting cross-learning? And that's essentially what journal conversation is trying to achieve, right? Um, as one of the strategies, you know, we do this with a mix of you know different ways from events that we convey to um stories that we do collaboratively with journalists in other parts of the country. But they at the foundation of all of this is that core question: what can we learn from each other? How are they addressing these issues? How are, you know, how are these different issues showing up, you know, manifesting in their different um in different climbs. So that's journal conversation. And I am Chibi K Alaboso, and I'm glad to be hosting today's edition. And I have two amazing guests with me. Interestingly, they've done a collaborative story together on a very important topic. So we'll be diving into that to sort of hear what inspired them, you know, to do that story, the story behind the story, essentially, and what they have seen or what they are sensing, or you know, what's been going on since they reported that story and other associated factors. So I'm glad to welcome two great guys to today's edition. Um, hi Farai Kenneth, can you introduce yourselves and let our listeners know who you are and the work that you do? Farai, you can go first. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:26

Hello everyone. So my name is Farai Farai Shon Matiashi. I'm a journalist uh based in Mutare, Zimbabwe, and I'm a stringer for various international uh media outlets, uh, including Al Jazeera, CNN International, the Economist, um African business, as well as as the African port. And um I I cover quite a number of issues, um uh including uh health, uh renewable energy, climate change, uh as well as as in as environment. And I mostly report from the rural areas. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Interesting. Thanks. I'll come back to that later on the rural area parts that you mentioned, but just before we get into that, um Kenneth.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

Um I'm Shinon So Kenneth, and uh I'm an international freelance journalist um writing out of Abuja, Nigeria, and uh also the founder of the Solutions paper, um, which is uh solutions focused newsroom, um out of Abuja as well. And uh I mostly do solution and constructive focus stories um around health, uh majorly and um religious tolerance, uh environmental and and gender equality as well.

SPEAKER_01 4:50

Nice. Thanks. Thanks for thanks for joining us. And just to um put it out there that we're recording this um remotely. Um China also is joining from Abuja. I am also here in Abuja recording, and Farrah is joining us from the eastern part of Zimbabwe. What's that city again, Farai?

SPEAKER_00 5:10

Uh the city is called Mutare.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

Nice. Which state is that in?

SPEAKER_00 5:15

Uh we have provinces here. Uh so it's in yeah, it's in Manegalen province.

SPEAKER_01 5:22

Oh, cool. So why why rural? Because that's one of the things you mentioned in your in your intro. Is that uh is that is it is it a personal preference or maybe uh as a result of where you find yourself, you know, reporting from mostly?

SPEAKER_00 5:41

Uh so for me it's uh it's a it's a personal uh preference. So you would say that uh most of my stories uh are are in depth, they are well researched. Uh we go beyond uh surface reporting. So let's say in Harare or in Abuja, there is a there is a minister announcing announcing a policy uh uh on health, and uh most of the journalists will just report uh about the that police from the perspective uh of the government minister. But for me, I'll go beyond that. I'll go to the rural areas uh to to speak to the people who are going to be affected by this police, and I'll report from their own perspective. Uh these are the people with with great stories, the people with amazing stories, you don't see them um in the day-to-day news, they are really covered because it involved um uh a lot a lot of effort, a lot of time, a lot of investment in terms of funding for you to to get to to where these people are. So that's that's uh that's what defines me, that's what I focus on.

SPEAKER_01 7:10

Interesting. And now so how about you? Why solutions? What um what inspired that for you to focus on more um yeah, focusing more on solutions reporting?

SPEAKER_03 7:26

Um so I I used to work in a very fast-paced uh daily newsroom, and um to be honest, it was good and it was great work. Um we were doing development reporting at the time, um, but but it was daily and it was fast-paced, and it really gave me a lot of mental instability having to uh to joke juggle that that amount of tax and uh also seeing the reporting daily on on issues, on on problems that seem not to be getting any better uh with time or with our reportage. And and that was really eating at me uh on until fortunately I was introduced to solution journalism by um the legendary uh Mr. Innocent Eteng. And and I've never looked back since then because it it not only um um helped my reportage, but it also helped my my mental health. Um, because I felt um like I wasn't just I was no longer spotlighting problems, but I was actively contributing to to solutions um you know with with my reporting.

SPEAKER_01 8:39

Oh nice. So I'm going to be going from where you you know what you talked about um now, um China, so just reporting solutions, why that matters to you, how it all started. So now diving into the the story that you two reported on actually, and it's a solutions, solutions focused, but from a collaborative lens. So you looked at it from um different country perspectives. So how did you come about that um that story?

SPEAKER_03 9:11

Um so we wrote that story um around November, December last year. So it was again typically in the really middle of the dry heat season, um, you know, um in Nigeria and and I believe across most of Africa as well. And uh and yeah, um, thanks Nigeria Health Watch, we we we put out uh um a call for collaborative pitches, um, you know, started doing some research on um health problems that are not just domiciled in one client, but um uh actually shared across across the African continent. And and you know, we were able to, it was pretty easy to identify such problems uh um, you know, that is shared across um uh our different geographical area, and and and that was how um we're able to connect with Farai. And and and from from the beginning, um it was clear that um you know the story would be valuable because again, this these issues were shared across across borders, not just in Nigeria um but also in Zimbabwe, with um almost similar solutions or or responses um um taking place. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:27

Yeah, thanks. So I guess we're just sort of saying it without saying it. So someone listening might be wondering, oh, what are we even talking about? So I'll just try and paint a picture. So imagine you are in the in a health facility, right? A woman is trying to deliver a child, a baby, and at that critical moment when, and this is late, right? Late at night, say 8 p.m., 9 p.m., midnight, because you never can say when when um that moment comes. So imagine that's you know, at that particular moment when one is taken to the delivery suite and she's pushing, you know, the health workers are there trying to get her to you know deliver the child, they are supporting her, maybe a family member is there, and all of a sudden, bam, everywhere is dark. You can't see anything at all. How do you picture that? Is this something you have heard about before? Is it something you have experienced, or maybe someone has told you such stories? Is it something, yeah? How what do you think about such um a scenario, essentially, Farai?

SPEAKER_00 11:49

Yeah, so so this is uh uh actually it's it's very sad. Uh but uh it has been it has been very common um uh in Zimbabwe as well as um as other countries uh in the in the region. Uh because you know we have been facing uh a series of of droughts. Uh some of the droughts were were caused by were worsened by by El Nino. And um I I I've talked to to health workers uh as well as um as some of the some of the mothers who have uh experienced uh this this scenario. So um I remember back in in 2019 uh when we're having uh uh uh power power shortages uh across the country. Um the the water levels at at Lake Kariba, you know, the the country's biggest um hydropower plant had gone down and uh we were facing problems. So you know women uh in at general hospitals as well as in Kanzu or Kansi Wall clinics, they they had to to give birth, you know, using uh candlelights. I remember speaking to to to one uh nurse who told me that uh uh you know at some point uh because there was no power and uh she was uh helping she was assisting a woman uh to to deliver. And then she had to to to use the the torchlight from from a phone uh so that uh you know health professionals can see. I think like these are very these are very common common stories as you move from from one hospital to another. I think it also it also happened in uh in in in Chiping Hakatwa where this story uh was written, you know, just before the the NGOs intervened, a a similar case, you know, happened. And it's um it's it's very sad.

SPEAKER_01 14:14

Well, so I mean it's it's I I I can't even imagine it. I can't even imagine being in a in a in a room where that happens. That's really scary, but also very sad. And to think that we have we have governments who are responsible, right? We have um policymakers who campaign who say, Oh, you know, they are going into power to help make the society work, and they get in, and most times, you know, 80-90% of the time, nothing changes. And that leads to non-profits coming to plug that gap, which you you know mentioned. So, but going away from that, which essentially, yes, we know the issues and we always we talk about the issues, but we also want to talk about what's working, right? Tell me about what's working, something that's working, something you I know you reported on. How did you come about it and what's your feel about the the intervention that is trying to help address this? Um, Kenneth.

SPEAKER_03 15:25

Uh yeah, um, so we care solar um has been working in Nigeria since um around 2008-2009, and in a very specific niche area that I find um really interesting and and and creative. Um, even though of course there there would be some loopholes, but it's a very niche area. And and and what they do um exactly is uh work with um primary healthcare centers to power up their uh maternity weights with with off-grid solar energy. And a very interesting story to to the beginning of uh of how of how Wikire Solar um came into um existence. Um it was during um Dr. Laurel's statures of postgraduate research um uh in Nigeria around 2008. Um she was doing a research at uh Kaduna State in a hospital called the Gambu Sawaba General Hospital in Kufang, Guyan. And um during uh her research, she was able to identify and observe uh how um power or how power outages um you know affects um um the maternity world and especially um um is indicative of high maternity um rates at that particular healthcare center. And um moved by this, uh unfortunately enough, she she had uh um an engineer for her husband, and um uh and she collaborated with him and and they actually built um the first of what they call a yellow suitcase. And um this this yellow suitcase um is uh it has a lithium battery and uh uh you know including a fetal Doppler. Uh it's it's it's used to check to check the heartbeats of uh of of of children in the womb for the fear to yeah, yeah. So it also comes with with two solar panels and uh and a battery, rechargeable battery, as well as sockets and high-powered um um torch lights that are also rechargeable. And this these yellow suitcases uh with the solar panels are installed in maternity watts, and they help to power um this maternity walls uh um you know all night long. Uh and because of of the the lithium battery um that the these yellow suitcases uh possess, they are very durable and and strong. So 12 volt capacity, lead lights, uh very efficient lead lights, and uh and they have been helping PhCs. Uh for instance, um before before this intervention, uh and and and for your knowledge, they have installed over uh 580 uh of these yellow suitcases in in over 560 primary healthcare centers, you know, across different catchment areas in in Abuja and Kaduna, and you know, and also reached about 5 million women so far, you know, preventing and what could have been a disastrous uh you know maternity rate in Nigeria. Um and so before before this intervention, uh when I spoke to some of the nurses at uh Kuchiguru PHC and uh and Lube and even in Guagalala, they all confirmed that you know they've they've had instances where they had to use candles, they had to use their their phone torch lights, you know, to to take deliveries and even had to turn turn turn women away because of course there was uh there was no power to do this. But with with the with the yellow suitcases, right um, two words are always um lit up. Um you know, they have they have power uh um and you know for for light. And you know, they they they told me they were using rechargeable um lamps. I have used several rechargeable lamps that sometimes even go off in the middle of you know taking an operation. Imagine you are you are you are delivering uh a woman of a baby with with with a torchlight and then it just goes off.

SPEAKER_01 19:58

Yeah, that's it's it's very difficult. It's really really difficult to imagine imagining. Thanks. I mean, I'll come back to you on sort of how they're able to fund this, but just before we go there, um Farai, what's the what are you what did you find essentially in in Zimbabwe, your your reports? And just to I know the the cities Sino so mentioned them Lube, Wagolada, Tinko Chinguru, they're all cities in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital, right? This is the federal capital we are talking about where you know these issues uh are prevalent, and you know, this intervention is now trying to help. So you can imagine what others are facing in other cities or states that are even far further from the from the seat of power. That's it's just interesting to just think through that. But yeah, for right, what's um what's the situation or what did you find in?

SPEAKER_00 20:59

Yeah, yeah. So we also have um uh week uh they've been uh doing quite a number of things uh here in Zimbabwe. Uh they also uh you know give uh these yellow suitcases to to different hospitals uh across the country. Uh but um UNDP has also been uh uh doing uh a lot of interventions. So they've installed uh they've installed installed uh uh solar solar um systems um it's uh government hospitals as well as uh council council owned uh council owned clinics. But um in Hakata there's something uh that that was unique uh because um uh this part of the country. They are one of the remotest. It's one of the remotest areas in the country. They are off-grid. I remember having to use uh an off-road vehicle, you know, from the highway. Uh going there. They are close to the to to to the border with Mozambique. And it was really difficult. Um they don't have the they are not connected to the grid. Uh, there is no network there. You know, the area is is is so remote, it's high uh mountainous. And um UNDP has installed a 200 uh a 200 kilowatt uh system there. So they've connected something like about eight households. Uh you know, the the system works uh the same way uh with our um with our our power systems in the cities. So they've got like a a a power a power plant, uh a solar power station with some some batteries and some solar panels, and then uh they've got some power lines, uh, you know uh uh moving, you know, transporting moving electricity from from the plant to distributing it to different households. There's a shopping center, and uh there's also a a clinic uh which is which is benefiting. And uh one thing I like about this is um it's it's it's sustainable in a way that uh um these households they they pay little compared to the compared to to to residents who are connected to to the main grid. So that the money is used, you know, to to keep to for maintenance costs um and um and and other issues just to keep to keep the system running. And uh they are actually better than those who are connected to the grid because uh we we always have power outages. And uh for for these guys who are using solar, who are using the grid, it's um it's electricity is is is always available.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

Right, thanks. I like that you you mentioned the payment path, because uh um, yes, while these interventions essentially um they are there to solve the core problem, right? Um, you know, the fact that they don't these PHCs lack reliable energy, um, especially in rural areas, not just even periurban areas, you know, clusters of spaces that are close to the city. But essentially the the bigger issue here is you know, people can't deliver at night using some basic medical equipment, like the example you shared, not so um China, so that you know the the box comes with the fetal um doplatin that you can use to check, monitor um baby's heart rate and all of that. So you can't do all of that if there's no electricity, but you know, because this is there, you know, that that solution or intervention is that you're able to do that, but also even storage, which is of course a bigger issue, a bigger conversation that we can't even get into because there are certain medications, vaccines, you know, that needs to be stored at certain um temperatures, right? And and at the end of the day, all of this, you know, we know the how it's impacting women and delivery and all of that. But even as these solutions, you know, are there trying to provide you know backup power, sometimes they are the only available power. Um, but also comes brings up the question of sustainability and what the government is doing in those spaces. Because, like I said, these these are like stop gap measures. Yes, when you find um gaps, usually that's the mindset of um an entrepreneur. If you find a problem, you try and find a solution to it, and you know, um people will be willing to pay for it. But that brings up the question who is who is paying for this? So now so you mentioned this is given to the PHCs, who is paying for it, how are they able to sustain it? And Farah, you also talked about the fact that there's a certain fee, you know, people are people pay. Um, so just looking at all of this in terms of which is more sustainable, right? I'm curious to know what you both think about you know sustainability in terms of the models, how these two um interventions are designed and deployed.

SPEAKER_03 27:10

Um so the yellow suitcases, um essentially donated to PhCs and primary healthcare centers uh funded and run and run by the government. Uh but then again, being that um, you know, this this yellow suitcases then originate out of a government initiative, um it might be hard to assess for the PHCs to assess a budget uh to maintain um you know these yellow suitcases, the lithium batteries, the the solar panels, the lead lights, uh, you know, and the fetal doppler, uh you know, when when when when there are maintenance um issues um uh on hand. Um but I I I want to believe that PHCs have um a budget for maintenance, right? Uh and uh but again, I'm I'm just I'm just um a bit curious since it didn't it didn't it didn't really resonate from the government um what what the procedure might be for for for the maintenance but I must say that the nurses at uh these PHCs are very uh um they they have good maintenance culture and they are very proud uh of of this yellow suitcases because sometimes um you know at night uh you know 12 a.m. 1 a.m. when um there is power outages in the PHCs, it's only the maternity wards that have lights, and they can even charge some devices and and and other stuff. So they are really protected of this. Um the yellow suitcases are mounted on a wall and then cased uh um with an iron um um protection, and the head nurse has the key to it, it's it's kept under lock and key, and and um it's it's used only as when needed and and necessary. And so I believe they are they are really um um by ownership they are doing their best, but then um when when it comes to um um you know replacing uh um some of the component parts, um that that that that might be an issue, which is where I defer to to to the Zimbabwean um model where there is already um a fee on ground that you know uh that that that keeps up some emergency funds for uh for these repairs.

SPEAKER_01 29:34

Yeah, cool. So essentially, I guess it's donor funded from what I hear you said since they donate this to the PHCs.

SPEAKER_03 29:41

Yeah, it's it's it's donor funded. Yeah, from from the USA and and um and unicef and others, although they have also been severely impacted uh with the with the cuts in donor funding. Um but one creative thing they have done is now um collaborating and liaising with with governments to uh to to pay for the suitcases and and then do the installment and training of nurses. So they are they are they have been working with um with the federal government in Abuja to roll out uh more in around the Abuja metropolis and rural areas as well as Kana and other Sokoto and other frontline um states with high mortality rates.

SPEAKER_01 30:24

That's interesting. And I mean it would be curious to know how, especially for facilities that are getting the funding. I know the the funds for the for Q1 of 2026 have just been disbursed. The basic healthcare provision fund, if this is something they can invest in, especially as far as I understand, this is a one-off engagement, right? There's no recurring cost, it's just one off to get the system and perhaps maybe when the battery dies, but that doesn't happen, sound like it happens um every day, the lithium batteries. So yeah, but yeah, yeah, that's cool. So, how about you, Farai? What's the I know there's a fee, sort of a fee for service or something that you mentioned, but how does it work and how do you think it will impact on on that solution or intervention long term as far as sustainability goes?

SPEAKER_00 31:17

Yeah, so uh as I mentioned before, that GNDP has been uh installing uh small um small solar systems at both government-owned and and canzu old clinics. So um I I visited one clinic uh here in Mutare. I think they've got something like an 18 kV, uh 18 kV solar system. And then I I asked uh the nurses if the system was working, and then they told me that they were having issues with um with with some batteries and and other cables. And then I asked why why is it that the the cans or the local authority did not uh send in their engineers to to to fix the the problem, and then they told me that no uh the people who installed this system actually came from Harare. And uh the the the local engineers they were they were not they were not taught uh how to how to fix any problems. So they don't know it's been it's been sitting like this whilst we are waiting for people to to to to come from Harare. And so so look with the um with the with the impact of um of of of funding cuts uh you know you might that system might just sit there and it might never be repaired because there's no funding to bring in uh some some experts some engineers from from our area to come and fix and fix the problem. So that's it's been a challenge like through throughout the country. So with this off-grid, um the the the donor the the donor UNDP worked with um with uh with the government. Um so we have got uh uh uh an agent responsible for for rural uh rural electrification uh in Zimbabwe. So they worked together with UNDP, you know, to to set up this system. They were using engineers, uh engineers from this uh this uh organization, you know, to electrify uh to electrify this community. So they are the ones who are managing the system. The donor actually they funded the initiative and then they left. And then the government is now in charge uh through these agents. So the the communities, these eight households that I talked about, they pay they pay electricity, just like we do, you know, in in urban areas. Uh you pay you you buy a token, uh, you buy a token from the the power utility company, and then you get your power, you use it up until it's decorated, and you you buy again. That's how uh this system is working. And I asked, uh what is what is the purpose of this? Because um uh renewable energy is free is always available. But then they told me no, these lithium batteries you see, they've got a lifespan of somewhere around 15 years, uh, and the solar panels can stretch up to 30-35 years somewhere there, and at some point they would need to be to be replaced. You need to replace some batteries, you'd need to replace uh some some power some power panels. There is also some security guys who are looking after the panels, these guys they need to be paid, and also uh, you know, the thing of community ownership, they want the community to own this project. That way the project can last because it's it's they they take it, it's it's part of it's part of their lives. Uh they guard it with with their own lives, they make sure that the system is is working. Uh, because if um if women are now are now giving birth in in a well-knit maternity world, uh you you wouldn't want to to you know to see the the system not working, you do whatever you do to ensure that the system is working. That's that's how sustainable uh this project is.

SPEAKER_01 35:48

Interesting. Thanks. So I mean this this has been interesting conversation, just hearing um all of the different ways it's the interventions play out, the the ownership, I like that part because it's always been one of the issues as far as um um interventions are concerned, who owns it to make sure that it's sustainable because whoever is bringing that intervention, in this case, either a non-profit or a social enterprise, they are not going to be there forever. So, how you know how do we make sure that it stays when they are not there? And it's really interesting to see you know that ownership, in as much as there are a couple areas that can, you know, um that improvements can still come, right? Um, especially around issues of funding to make sure that it can scale, um, maintenance when there are technical issues, you know, like you mentioned, um Farai, and essentially scaling it to other other places, right? This this has been interesting. But so but so now looking at both countries, right? You you did this story collaboratively. There was a Nigeria side, there was the there was the Zimbabwe side. So maybe you now. So imagine you are now facing each other in the room and you're talking to each other. So, what is one thing that you think that you liked from both sides? Is there any if you know it's not composite that much that you must like something? Is there anything that you like from the other side? So um China, so from the Zimbabwe side, for right from the Nigeria side, how they how how they are going about there, so how that particular um non-profit you know is addressing this this challenge. Um, because of course they are there there there might be others, there will be others who are also trying, it can't be just one person, but for the purpose of the reports, this um the investigation that you guys did, is there something you liked or something you think they could have done better?

SPEAKER_03 37:52

Uh so I think for me, I again like the fact that the whole upgrade um initiative um you know came up as uh a partnership between the government and an international nonprofit. And I believe that is what um will lead to its continuity and you know community ownership. Um it wasn't it wasn't just a one-off, there was uh you know an actual purpose, you know, to come together between the government and a nonprofit to do this. I say this because I believe to solve um you know this problem um around maternal mortality, around um, you know, energy source and stability for healthcare centers and healthcare in general. I believe there has to be concerted efforts, um, you know, not just um silos of of responses from from government on one side to nonprofit or the other and and and individuals on another side. You know, it has to be coordinated, comprehensive, and concerted. So so I I like the fact that you know this initiative was bettered um you know from from um a collaborative point of view uh between between the government and uh and and and yeah, I mean it's collaboration, collaboration, collaboration, essentially.

SPEAKER_01 39:14

Farah, how about you? Anything or something? It can be on the other side.

SPEAKER_00 39:20

Yeah, I think I like uh the fact that the um uh the the week a not a non-profit is is uh working hand in hand with uh uh the federal government. I think uh collaboration is the way to go. And I also like the the fact that um Chinon so brought up of you know ring fencing. Because you know, these suitcases they're ideally meant for for for maternity words, and uh, you know, at a hospital, in as much as uh everyone in the hospital is affected by uh by these uh power outages, I think um women in who a woman who is who is who is giving birth or who is about to give birth is the most affected, and you wouldn't want um you wouldn't want to to to to deliver a babe in a in a in a dark room. So the fact that these these yellow suitcases are mounted on a wall, you know, that's that's ring fencing. Because uh in my country we have a problem, we have got like a problem where uh tax is like I can give you an example of sugar tax, uh, which is which is meant to buy um to buy equipment like cancer machines, but you know, the money is is not ring fenced, it's it's ending up being used uh somewhere else. So I think this is uh this is a great lesson that uh other African countries can can learn from from this project in Nigeria.

SPEAKER_01 40:54

Interesting. Thank you. I like that you ended with that because that's essentially why we're doing this learning, cross-learning, you know, sharing with others. So we are we are we are learning from what others are doing. So just to end, um if you had one opportunity, so if you're going to maybe you are in a convening and you are able to speak to a policymaker across from any African country, maybe your own country or another country, is there something that you that you want them to you know do now? Anything to avoid losing more mothers, especially due to something as simple, really simple as well, maybe not so simple as um electricity or maybe on other costs really are you know to reduce maternal modality, because at the end of the day, that's where all of this um you know conversation has has led to having steady power supply in in primary healthcare centers to support deliveries, to support women when they are at a very at a very vulnerable moment.

SPEAKER_03 42:09

That's an interesting one. Um so uh at the risk of repeating myself, I would say again collaboration. Um first they need to they need to uh policymakers across uh the different countries in Africa need to see uh you know maternal mortality and healthcare as a care and imminent that requires um you know immediate attention and action. And and and and again, collaboration is the way to go. They need to um you know partner up uh with with uh again. That is one thing about Africa. We are very resilient. Um most times you don't really have to wait for the government. You have different silos of community development, community initiatives, individuals, um, you know, groups, non-profits, do what they can in different silos to uh you know to solve this problem. And so the government needs to collaborate with these different silos of practices to ensure that these problems are tackled. And we need to start designing primary healthcare centers and and healthcare facilities in general with upgraded energy sources, you know, right from the ground, right from the side. That that that will help curb um all this all these problems um in the long run. Thank you. All right, thoughts?

SPEAKER_00 43:35

Yeah, for me, uh I I think uh we shouldn't be losing uh mothers or or we shouldn't uh have mothers being turned away from a clinic just because there is no power in 2026. It's unbelievable. And uh So the government should own up projects like this. The government should scale up, build uh more off-grid solar power uh stations, solar power plants across the country. And uh they should not wait for for for donors. I think we have learned a lot with the the US funding cuts. Uh that we can't we can't rely on donors. The government can't um can't neglect its duties, you know, thinking that uh that the that donors will come in, you know. Some of the money, it's not even much. The government has this money, they can use the taxpayers' money to fund projects like this.

SPEAKER_01 44:51

Awesome. Thank you so much for that. I hope they are listening. Um, that's really the idea for this. So, yes, we do our part, we pull in colleagues, you know, like you both to have this conversation, but we also leverage our platform to push it out there um throughout the Nigeria Health Watch channel. So we're hoping that they they get to see some of these recommendations. We know there are um you know recommendation solutions everywhere, but we keep pushing them out because it's not a one-off engagement, and that's essentially why this um conversation matters. So, thank you so much for making our time to um cheer insight, dive deep into this um important reporting that you did, the intervention around using renewable energy at the PHC level to improve access to maternal health care. Thanks so much, Inosu, and thank you, Farai, for your time.

SPEAKER_02 45:50

So much, thank you for having me, Chirike.

SPEAKER_01 45:53

Okay, good. So, this has been made possible by Nigeria's Watch Journal Conversations podcast series. You can get us anywhere you get your podcast. And please do reach out if you have any thoughts, any contribution, any solution really that we um that you want us to talk about or something that is working around you, or even not working, because we believe if people don't know about the issues too, we talk about them, we don't shy away from talking about them. But the conversation now becomes if the you know if the problems are out there, we now start asking what's working, do we know enough of what's working so others can learn? So you can reach out to us through any of our social media platforms, just Nigeria Healthwatch, and we will show up or podcast at Nigeria Healthwatch.com. Hi, it's been a pleasure hosting this episode, and my name Remens Chibk Alabosa. Thank you, and over.