Life-Saving Innovation: Solar Surgery Systems Spotlighted by BBC StoryWorks

News

Tue Apr' 24

A path to a better world...

We're delighted to announce our participation in BBC StoryWork's "Healthier Together: A path to a better world" campaign, with the launch of this incredible video.

Produced in partnership with Smile Train and created by BBC's StoryWorks Commercial Production Studio, the piece outlines the life-saving impact of our incredible solar surgery system.

The video features Dr. Amos Zacharia Muzuka, an incredible paediatric anaesthesiologist working in Tanzania - but his job, which is already incredibly delicate, can and often does become impossible in just an instant.

The problem of power...

Power outages in low- and middle-income countries are common. In fact, it is estimated that around 1 billion people globally can only access healthcare facilities with either unreliable power, or none at all.

In an operating room - the consequences of a power-cut can be fatal.

We don't think it's fair that in countries where safe, timely surgery is already so hard to access, that a child undergoing surgical care should suffer further due to the failings of a national power grid.

So, last year, alongside partners Smile Train, we launched the Solar Surgery System.This ground-breaking innovation sought to bring control of the power back to the local surgical teams we work with, and, by harvesting one of Africa's strongest and most sustainable natural resources, the sun, created a system that would make power loss in an operating theatre a thing of the past.

In a short space of time, this system, powered by a smart-battery that harvests solar energy and can power a theatre for an entire day, is already making an incredible impact. Already in use in 12 facilities across the continent, we aim for it to be powering 70 more paediatric theatres in low-resource settings by the end of the year.

We're not going to stop. Every year, our work reaches more people, helps train more surgeons, and helps save more children's lives. But we can't do this alone.

If you're with us - join the mission. We believe in a world where safe, timely surgery is a human right. Show your support and join us by signing up below.