Power Outages No Longer a Threat to Critical Lab Testing as UNDP Installs Solar Systems in Five Regional Laboratories

Freetown, Sierra Leone – Frequent electricity outages have long disrupted medical laboratory services in Sierra Leone, delaying critical test results and putting vital samples at risk. That challenge is now being addressed through a major investment in reliable renewable energy.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone has handed over solar inverter systems to five regional laboratories under the Ministry of Health, ensuring uninterrupted power for essential diagnostic services.

The beneficiary laboratories are located in Western Area Rural, Port Loko, Bombali, Bo, and Kenema, where the new systems will help maintain continuous operations even during national power interruptions.

The initiative is expected to significantly improve the speed and reliability of laboratory testing, protect temperature-sensitive medical samples, and strengthen the country's capacity to respond swiftly to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

By providing a stable source of electricity, the solar inverter systems will reduce downtime that previously forced laboratory technicians to restart tests, saving valuable time and improving patient care.

UNDP acknowledged the support of The Global Fund, the Ministry of Health, and other development partners whose collaboration made the project possible. The initiative reflects the partners' shared commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone's healthcare system through sustainable energy solutions and improved diagnostic capacity.

Source: UNDP-SL