Over 140 million residents in underserved communities in Africa and Asia are benefiting from the solarisation of more than 1,700 primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia and Pakistan, in a project worth over $30 million.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a statement on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland, stated that in Nigeria, it invested approximately $9 million of the fund in 371 healthcare facilities to benefit an estimated 115 million people.
Gavi said, “An ambitious drive to solarize primary health care facilities, backed by an investment of more than US$30 million from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is helping unlock benefits for more than 140 million people in underserved communities across Africa and Asia.
“By solarising more than 1,700 facilities across Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Uganda and Zambia, the initiative is helping address one of the most persistent barriers to equitable immunisation – unreliable access to electricity at frontline health facilities – while making long-term investments in health care service delivery.
“Across the five countries, these investments are improving health services for tens of millions of people. In Nigeria, the solarisation of 371 primary health care facilities is strengthening access to vaccines and basic health services for an estimated 115 million people through an investment of approximately US$9 million.
“In Ethiopia, 380 facilities have been solarised, serving about 8.6 million people through an investment of US$6.39 million. Pakistan has equipped 398 health facilities with solar power, extending services to around 12.4 million people through US$6.67 million in support.
“In Uganda, 250 facilities have been upgraded, serving approximately 3.1 million people through an investment of US$4.25 million, while in Zambia, the solarisation of 296 facilities is improving access to care for an estimated 1.3 million people, supported by US$4.17 million.”
According to Gavi, the milestone came as governments, development partners, climate experts and civil society convened at COP31 in Türkiye, where discussions focusing on practical solutions that strengthen community resilience while advancing climate and development goals were held.
Gavi decried the energy gaps that have long undermined efforts to expand immunisation programmes, leading to missed vaccination opportunities and persistent inequities in access to care.
The organisation stated that solarisation provides clean, reliable and sustainable energy to health facilities that are far from power grids or where power is expensive or only available for part of the day.
“With dependable electricity, clinics are better able to maintain vaccine cold chains, extend service hours and enable night-time and emergency services, operate essential medical equipment including diagnostics – supporting health workers in challenging environments and offer safer, more consistent care for communities,” it explained.
Gavi said its efforts to solarise the vaccine and healthcare supply chain demonstrate how investments in clean energy can simultaneously improve health outcomes and vaccine equity, strengthen immunisation and health systems for some of the world’s most underserved communities, and reduce emissions while increasing sustainability.
Director of Vaccine Forecasting and Supply Management at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Ian MacTavish, stated that, “By investing in solar energy for primary healthcare facilities, Gavi is removing a critical bottleneck to vaccine equity while helping countries build stronger, more sustainable and climate-friendly health systems. Solar‑powered clinics ensure vaccines remain safe, health workers can deliver services consistently, and communities in far‑flung areas can access life‑saving vaccines and essential health services.”
