Mon health staff trained on solar system maintenance

DIMAPUR — A four-day training on operations and maintenance of solar PV systems and Saura e-Mitra was conducted from June 24 to the 27th at the District Hospital Mon conference hall and at Aboi block and Tobu block.

An update stated that the training took place in the presence of Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Mon Dr. Aonungdoktoshi Ao, epidemiologist (IDSP) Dr. Elizabeth, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at Aboi Community Health Centre (CHC) Dr. Nungshikokba, SMO at Tobu CHC Dr. Khekhrie, and block programme managers of Tizit and Aboi.

The training was jointly facilitated by SELCO Foundation and the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH).

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At the inaugural, delivering the keynote address, Dr. Aonungdoktoshi expressed gratitude to the NPCCHH and SELCO Foundation for facilitating the training for all the health staff from the solar system-installed health centres under Mon district.

The Deputy CMO also acknowledged the collaborative effort, stating that such initiatives play a crucial role in strengthening the overall health system at the grassroots level.

The training aimed to equip the health staff with essential knowledge and skills to operate and maintain the solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in their respective health facilities.

It covered a comprehensive range of topics, including solar panel inspection, preventive and corrective maintenance techniques, battery health checks, an overview of inverter systems, identification and troubleshooting of basic faults, and safety protocols related to solar energy systems.

Participants were also trained on routine cleaning practices, load management, proper documentation, and escalation mechanisms for technical support. Emphasis was placed on understanding daily operational indicators and how timely maintenance can directly impact the functionality of health centres, especially in off-grid and energy-deficient areas.

The training also included the Saura e-Mitra App, which is designed to effectively handle, track, and resolve issues related to decentralised renewable energy systems for public healthcare. This platform ensures prompt and efficient management of issues, enhancing reliability and sustainability.

Saura e-Mitra will streamline incident reporting and resolution processes, enhance the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy products in healthcare settings, and ultimately improve the quality of healthcare services provided.

As part of the larger state initiative, plans are now underway to bring all solar-powered health centres under a single operational framework. This will ensure consistent upkeep and sustainability of these systems.

Moving forward, all health staff working in solar-electrified health centres across all districts will undergo phase-wise training on basic operations and preventive maintenance of the systems.

The training was facilitated by Imli. A total of 131 health staff from 80 solar-powered health centres under Mon district attended the training.

At present, a total of 524 health facilities across the state have been solar powered through the combined efforts of SELCO Foundation, United Nations Development Programme, and Nagaland Health Project in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

In Mon district, out of 80 solar-powered health facilities, 60 health centres are solar powered through the SELCO Foundation and 20 health centres through the Nagaland Health Project.