World changers bring solar power initiative to Malawi
Published: 6 January 2021
The Institute's Professor Paul Garside has won a prestigious Scottish Funding Council Global Challenges Research Fund award to install a groundbreaking solar energy system at the Blantyre Blantyre Research Facility at the University of Malawi.
The Institute's Professor Paul Garside has won a prestigious Scottish Funding Council Global Challenges Research Fund award to install a groundbreaking solar energy system at the Blantyre Blantyre Research Facility.
The facility, housed within the College of Medicine (COM) at the University of Malawi and funded by the Scottish Government's International Development department, is a state-of-the-art laboratory that boasts cutting edge microscopy, diagnostic, and cryo freezing storage facilities.
This exciting initiative is particularly significant due to the fact Professor Garside and Dr Mwapatsa Mipando, immediate past principal of COM, have teamed up with a former University of Glasgow student.
An MSc graduate who won the UofG 2019 World Changing Alumni award, Eunice Ntobedzi (pictured, below) is now CEO of Africa Sun Energy Ltd.
Based in Botswana, they aim to bring inexpensive solar power to more than 660 million Africans who are currently without access to electricity.
As well as installing the new solar power system at the Malawi Lab, Eunice will roll out solar power installation training and education in Malawi, with the project serving as an exemplar for further clean energy solutions for COM and the wider Malawian community.
Professor Garside, University of Glasgow Dean of Global Engagement (Africa & Middle East), said: "It is absolutely fantastic to see one of our world changing alumni from Botswana helping to deliver clean energy and expertise to an important new clinical research facility developed with our partners at College of Medicine in Malawi. [This is] a real example of south-south collaboration.
Dr Mipando said: "I am so excited to see that our Blantyre Blantyre Research Facility will utilise clean energy and thereby be an exemplar in our country and the region.
"This project is a giant step in our quest to become an environmentally friendly campus, and we look forward to working with our colleagues from Scotland and Botswana."
Eunice added: "This funding has come at a crucial time for the health sector in southern Africa, where many health facilities still do not have access to reliable and affordable clean energy to enable them to maintain basic services.
"This is even more significant as the possible vaccine required for the treatment of COVID-19 will require a level of temperature control to maintain efficacy.
"The project at the College of Medicine will be a demonstration of a new clean energy service that addresses the needs of health facilities, not only in Malawi but in the entire region.
"Furthermore, we are planning to have the project completed by the end of February 2021 and have started to ensure that we do everything necessary to ensure its success."
First published: 6 January 2021