(MENAFNEditorial) Deputizing for Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sheyyab, Director of the Planning Department at the Ministry of Health Dr. Basheer Al Qaseer officially inaugurated the Connected Solar Clinic, a first-of-its-kind health facility enabling a superior level of medical services in off-grid settings, in Mafraq Governorate on Wednesday 18 January, 2017. Donated by Siemens Stiftung – a non-profit foundation established by Siemens AG – and designed and implemented by SOLARKIOSK, the clinic adds to the capacities of the Jordanian Ministry of Health in the bordering region to Syria, where medical facilities for residents and Syrian refugees struggle to meet the public’s needs.
The Connected Solar Clinic, based on an award-winning design by SOLARKIOSK, is equipped with high-quality medical diagnostics and treatment equipment, such as an ultrasound and a hematology lab, and is able to treat up to 75 patients per day. The clinic is entirely autonomous from the electrical grid and powers a range of medical devices. The solar energy that powers the clinic also supports broadband connectivity, linking it to the digital health platform of the Jordanian Ministry of Health.
According to UNHCR, almost 700,000 refugees live in Jordan today, a substantial portion of whom reside in Mafraq. This increase in Mafraq’s inhabitants has put considerable strain on the governorate’s medical facilities, necessitating the establishment of additional facilities, outfitted with the required modern medical equipment, to cope with increased demand from residents and refugees alike. Siemens Stiftung, alongside project implementation partner SOLARKIOSK, established the Connected Solar Clinic to enhance healthcare in the region and contribute to easing tensions in a highly vulnerable host community. This step is an example of the German aid delivered to Jordan to help the Kingdom combat the negative consequences of its growing refugee population.
“The Connected Solar Clinic provides us with the much-needed capacity to ensure healthcare for Syrian refugees as well as the local community in the Mafraq region,” said H.E. Al-Sheyyab. “Its unique setup makes it a reference project and we hope for more international support to benefit vulnerable communities in Jordan.”
In turn, Rolf Huber, Managing Director of Siemens Stiftung, said, “Global refugee movements are one of the key challenges of our time – politically, economically and socially. With the Connected Solar Clinic and its high-quality medical diagnostics and treatment equipment, we want to make a positive contribution to improving people’s lives in the region.”
Andreas Spiess, CEO and Co-founder of SOLARKIOSK, further added, “SOLARKIOSK´s design enables multiple functionalities which are crucial in humanitarian crises: energy, health and connectivity. With the Connected Solar Clinic, we designed a solution which is power-autonomous and can, as a kit-of-parts, easily be implemented in any area where people – refugees or not – are in dire need of medical treatment."
In order to contribute to alleviating other challenges in the humanitarian field, such as off-grid water purification, in 2015, Siemens Stiftung and SOLARKIOSK jointly established the SolarFountain gGmbH, a non-profit organization aiming to give people in low-income regions of developing countries access to vital products and services.
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