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Rural areas to benefit from solar power

A new solar-powered mobile health centre will offer healthcare in rural areas for people to benefit from eye, ear, blood and dental medical services.

The Samsung Solar Powered Health Centre runs completely on the sun’s energy and various solar power units. It has three cubicles, one for eye and blood tests, dental clinic and ear clinic.

Kea' Modimoeng, Corporate Citizenship manager of Samsung Africa, says that Samsung are very active in finding green solutions and that Africa is the perfect place for the model centre.

"Health and education are big issues. We found it very important to come up with programmes to tap into the resource we have in abundance, which is the sun," Modimoeng said.

Healthy educated future

Modimoeng says through their work and interactions with schools and the various departments in governments around Africa, they've established that learner performance is not only affected by the lack of commitment but in some instances critical health issues.

"Through solar power and this mobile health solution, we will be able to drive into schools and communities in the utmost rural areas to promote the culture of proactive medical tests."

The centres will focus on educating communities about health issues and encouraging people to take tests as preventative measure.

A large focus will be placed on screening people to establish conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and cataracts.

Healthcare doesn't come cheaply, which is why the service is free to all who live in the communities the health centre will visit.

Modimoeng stresses that the equipment is highly specialised from an x-ray unit, digital amalgamator, needle incinerator and blood analyser, to a spectacle repair kit and screening audiometer oscilla SM930 with headset and response switch.

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