Direct Relief - A2E Fund

Malawi suffers from frequent and prolonged power cuts that make it difficult for hospitals to deliver consistent, quality care. When the lights go out, surgeries are delayed, vaccines risk spoilage, and life-saving equipment falls silent. For maternity and neonatal wards, where every second counts, a reliable source of power can mean the difference between life and death.

Malawi
Area 25, Lilongwe

At the Area 25 Health Centre in Lilongwe, one of Malawi’s busiest public hospitals with over 8,500 births each year, the lack of stable electricity has long affected patient care and hospital efficiency. The project, led by Direct Relief, will expand the existing solar mini-grid by adding 30 kWp of generation and 120 kWh of battery storage. This upgrade will ensure reliable power for critical areas such as the maternity waiting home, neonatal and post-operative wards, and clinical IT systems.

By reducing dependence on the unstable grid and costly diesel generators, the project will strengthen healthcare delivery, lower operating costs, and reduce carbon emissions. It will also prepare the hospital for the future addition of an intensive care unit, creating a more resilient, efficient, and life-saving facility for mothers, newborns and the wider community of Lilongwe.
 

Expected outputs:

• Strengthen the existing system and power the centre’s maternity waiting home, post-operative neonatal ward, and its ancillary building that houses critical IT servers and conference rooms for clinical staff.
• Prepare for the future growth of the hospital with a new ICU unit.
• Train staff on updated operations, maintenance guidance, and procedures.
• Improve reliable energy for key services, expand power capacity, and reduce the risk of blackouts.
• Achieve better health outcomes, especially for mothers and babies, reducing maternal mortality and preventable newborn and child deaths.
• Reduce reliance on diesel backup by 50% and lower annual energy costs by approximately €68,000.