The Buin District Health Centre, a level 3 medical facility serving around 200 patients monthly, has long been a crucial lifeline for residents of Southern Bougainville. Built in the 1960s, the centre provides essential health and ambulatory care but has faced persistent challenges, particularly frequent power outages that disrupt daily operations, water supply, cold storage for vaccines, and lighting for surgeries and deliveries.
Nurse Cecilia Naguo, who has served the community since 2017, recalls the difficulties of working under such conditions. The lack of consistent electricity forced staff to fetch water manually, rely on torches during power cuts, and use expensive gasoline-powered generators sparingly. Despite these challenges, Naguo remained committed to her vocation, inspired by her grandfather’s positive experience with healthcare and her nursing education, which emphasized the value of life and community service.
The situation in Buin is set to improve with the construction of a new solar farm, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP’s Pacific Green Transformation Project. This renewable energy source will provide consistent power to the entire town, ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services, stable cold storage for vaccines, reliable water supply, and lighting for the clinic’s 24/7 operations. The solar farm is expected to cut energy costs by up to 50 percent while replacing reliance on costly and polluting generators.
The clinic’s labor ward, handling around 20 deliveries per month, will particularly benefit from the new power source, maintaining sanitation, sterilization, and patient safety even during extended outages. Staff and the local community are enthusiastic about the solar farm, recognizing its potential to enhance service delivery and reduce operational burdens.
Cecilia Naguo, now the Executive Director of Southern Bougainville Health Services, highlights the broader impact of the project. Beyond improving healthcare infrastructure, the reliable and clean energy supply symbolizes progress for women and the community in Bougainville, ensuring that essential services are sustained and the health facility can continue serving as a vital hub for the region.
