Drive Time: Kano – Kaduna 4hrs
Kaduna – Plateau 1.5 hrs
Our Kano contact, Rev. Murtala Mati (of ECWA) led us to the Tofa basic healthcare centre, situated in Tofa Local Government Area of Kano state. This was the first primary healthcare centre we’ve visited that is run by a lady. The young lady (Saratu Usman Bala) was quick to grasp the workings of the solar lamp/phone charger, saying she would be more than happy to swap her candles and torch for the really bright lamp.
Next stop was the Fantsuam primary healthcare centre in Bayanloco, Kafanchan (Kaduna state). In what seemed to be a sadly recurring theme, the Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), Baruani Zubairu, showed us the kerosene lantern she worked with in the maternity room. The Fantsuam Foundation co-ordinator, Comfort Kazanka, told us vividly how, over the weekend, a lady in the community had locked her children indoors and left for a Christian fellowship. During her absence, a fire broke out (caused by candle use) and she returned to find her home grazed to the ground, and both her children had died. The Fantsuam setting is amazing. It is made up of several entities (a library, the basic healthcare centre, a training centre etc) that rely on infrastructure best described as a hybrid of high tech (solar panels, inverters), supported by low tech (such as our solar lantern gift) for those numerous days when both the primary and secondary sources of electricity cannot sustain the power needs of the Fantsuam ‘community’.
Third call for the day was Vom (Jos South Local Government area of Plateau state). Guided by our Vom contact (Sam Mbok, who is a nurse at the Christian Hospital), we presented two different kinds of solar applications to two people: An elderly lady, Mrs. Rhoda Boyi, who runs a ’Mama Put’ food canteen, and Pius Shandima who operates a small dispensary. Both of them use candles as the major source of lighting after 6pm. The ceiling of Pius’ small shop drops low. Combine this with wooden shelves and the stash of cartons (big & small) fills his shop, and it is easy to see why his continued use of candle light is an accident waiting to happen. Mrs. Boyi speaks clearly about the unaffordable expense of kerosene, adding that she would make more money from her business if only she could extend her trade into the night. For her, the hanging solar light she received from us was ‘what the doctor ordered’.
Connectivity
Internet: GSM signal from GLO. No connection achieved
Mobile phone: MTN, GLO work OK.
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