With funding from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), the World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a new project to strengthen the energy resilience of Yemen’s health sector through the installation of solar energy systems and battery storage in 6 health facilities across the country.
Frequent power cuts severely disrupt the delivery of lifesaving health services across Yemen. The new KFAED-funded initiative will help ensure continuous and sustainable power for hospitals and primary health care facilities, enabling operating theatres, intensive care units and vaccine cold chains to function without interruption.
Through this 12-month project, WHO will:
• install solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage units in 6 health facilities in priority governorates;
• provide technical support and capacity-building to health staff and maintenance teams for effective system operation and sustainability;
• strengthen climate resilience and the environmental sustainability of Yemen’s health infrastructure; and
• provide technical support to undertake energy needs assessments and identify additional facilities that could benefit from renewable energy resources, increasing climate resilience and reducing carbon emissions
WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Syed Jaffer Hussain said “Reliable electricity is the backbone of every functioning health facility” adding “Through the generous support of the Kuwait Fund, WHO is helping ensure that health services remain uninterrupted even during power outages, protecting lives, improving service quality and contributing to a greener, more resilient health system in Yemen.”
The project complements WHO’s broader efforts to integrate renewable energy solutions into Yemen’s health facilities, reduce operational costs and ensure that vulnerable communities can continue to access essential medical care despite ongoing crises and climate challenges.