The Saint-Louis Program for the Prevention and Fight against Blindness (PPFB) in Senegal was established in 2019 thanks to a valuable partnership with the Association Saint-Louisienne pour la Vue (ASV). Since its creation, and thanks to a grant from the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec (MRIF), the PPFB has offered four vision care services: screening, ophthalmological examinations, surgery, and the sale of glasses and medication at affordable rates to the people of the Saint-Louis region.
The PPFB ophthalmology center is located in a semi-rural Sahelian zone, where electricity distribution is inadequate. One of the main reasons for this is temperature variations due to climate change. The rainy season is getting heavier every year, and drought more intense and frequent. For some years now, the region has had to cope with numerous untimely power cuts.
Although the program has been a success for several years, the fact remains that these sudden power cuts and surges are affecting the quality of activities and services as well as the smooth running of the Community ophthalmology Center: the risk of optical and optometric equipment breakage and disruption to eye care consultations (the Center is sometimes forced to close its doors due to breakdowns).
After discussions with our partner, we decided to install a system of solar panels to meet the needs of the Center. This project came to fruition last July, thanks to funding from MRIF and the support of Avenir Solaire.
In addition to ensuring the sustainability of the PPFB and the maintenance of its activities, the installation of solar panels will definitely have a positive long-term effect on the Center and the environment. As a green, clean and sustainable form of energy, it produces low levels of pollutants. The use of solar panels also reduces the use of fossil fuels and energy consumption, and therefore greenhouse gas emissions. As for the services at the Center, the stability of the power supply will considerably improve the quality of consultations offered to patients. It will also enable the ASV to increase its independence as well as the sustainability of its interventions.
Thanks to the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec (MRIF), without whose support this project would not have been possible.
Thanks also to Avenir Solaire and its director François Vion, for his expertise and support.
Testimonial
“We are very satisfied with our new solar system. [We are] in constant contact with François Vion to monitor the installations. François still makes adjustments remotely to perfect the service. Our programs are no longer interrupted due to lack of power, because the energy provided by the panels is always there. Right now, the meter supplied by the national electricity company [SENELEC] is disconnected, which means that we’re running day and night thanks to solar power. We’re completely satisfied. The power cuts have started up again but thanks to solar power, we’re operating properly without any interruption in service’’. – Alioune Fall, PPFB Saint-Louis Coordinator at ASV.