For more than two decades, Mvinza Dispensary stood as the only hope for thousands of people in Mvinza village, Kasulu. Each year, over 11,000 residents sought care within its walls—mothers in labor, children in need of vaccines, and patients in pain. But behind its long history of service was a daily struggle: no reliable power, no affordable transport, and constant compromises.
Inside the wards, health workers often worked in near darkness. The small solar panel they had could barely light a room or charge a phone. Batteries meant to store energy had long died. Critical services like the Outpatient Department (OPD) and labor ward often operated without electricity at all.
“Sometimes we had to stop services early because the power was gone,” remembers Bahati Lutema Thomas, a Clinical Officer at the facility. “And when emergencies came at night, we used phone torches to help patients. It was heartbreaking.”
The financial burden was just as heavy. Every month, the dispensary used to spend around Sh240,000 on disposable batteries just to keep essential medical devices such as BP machines running. On top of that, preserving vaccines demanded an additional Sh56,000 monthly for gas cylinders—including refilling and transport costs. These recurring expenses drained the facility’s already limited budget, leaving little room for other critical needs.
Outreach services to nearby villages like Songambele and Usilangi added even more strain, as staff often paid Sh30,000 per trip for rented motorcycles. With at least two trips each month, transport costs reached Sh60,000, and in times of disease outbreaks, this figure could soar to Sh120,000. Money that could have gone into improving services was instead swallowed by unsustainable stopgaps.
In 2024, everything changed. Through the Kijanisha Afya program, Mvinza Dispensary received something it had never had before: reliable, sustainable energy and affordable electricity and transport.
The intervention brought a robust solar energy system with a 5kW inverter, 6.51kWp of solar panels, generating up to 24.41kWh a day, and 5kWh of battery storage, ensuring 24-hour clean power. Alongside this came an electric motorcycle, fully charged at the dispensary itself. Suddenly, the lights stayed on. Vaccines could be safely stored. Services extended into the night without fear. Outreach teams could reach remote villages without draining the facility’s budget.
“We are very happy with this new technology,” Bahati says with a smile. “The e-motorbike is easy to use, and it saves us so much money. Now, we can reach patients without worrying about transport costs.”
Pascal Gasure, a volunteer Clinical Officer, said the change is personal. “Now I don’t even hesitate to come to work at night,” he says with relief. “With reliable light and transport, I truly enjoy my job.”
The benefits of Kijanisha Afya go beyond lowering costs. By replacing disposable batteries, gas cylinders, and fossil-fuel-based transport with solar power and e-mobility, Mvinza Dispensary has dramatically cut its carbon footprint. It is now part of Tanzania’s journey toward climate resilience—a healthcare system prepared not just to heal, but to adapt.
Women and children, who make up the majority of healthcare seekers and providers, have felt the greatest relief. Deliveries at night are now safer, mothers can access care with dignity, and health workers no longer shoulder the stress of working in darkness.
Even village leaders are inspired. Victorian Faustine Umbe, the Village Executive Officer, calls it a turning point. “As local leaders, we will make sure this project is protected. The more we take care of it, the more it will benefit our people—and maybe even attract more partners to bring us other services,” he says.
Today, Mvinza Dispensary is no longer a place where healthcare workers fight shadows. It is a beacon of progress, powered by the sun and moving toward a sustainable future on two electric wheels. With the support of the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania and the commitment of the ELICO Foundation, this rural health facility now stands as living proof that clean energy and healthcare innovation can go hand in hand—improving lives, protecting the planet, and restoring hope.
Kijanisha Afya is more than a project. It is a promise—that even in the most underserved corners of Tanzania, health and dignity can shine bright.
