CURE Zambia Embraces Solar Energy As It Expands Its Ward To Serve More Children

In the wake of power load-shedding caused by the extreme drought in Zambia, Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital recently installed a solar energy sustainability field to help manage the long load-shedding hours. This comes at a critical time as the hospital has expanded its capacity by adding 15 more ward beds, allowing it to serve more children.
CURE serves some of Zambia’s most underserved communities, where surgical care for children with disabilities is often unaffordable, leaving many to grow up with these life-limiting conditions. Timely surgery can break the cycle of poverty, discrimination, and abuse, offering children a chance at a better future. With thousands of children still awaiting care at CURE Zambia, the ward expansion is part of a broader strategy to increase surgical capacity. This also includes the addition of a new Comprehensive Cleft Care Center and the addition of more surgeons to meet the growing demand.

The newly named Beit Munro Children’s Ward honours the long-standing partnership between CURE and the Beit Trust. This relationship began even before the hospital’s construction in 2006, when the UK-based charity, established by Alfred Beit in 1906, generously provided initial funding for the hospital as a gift to Zambia. The ward is named after Sir Alan Gordon Munro, Alfred Beit’s great nephew, who served the Trust for 44 years, including 23 as Chairman. Throughout the years, the Trust has continued to support major hospital projects, including funding the new children’s ward.

 

 

“What CURE does is invest in the single most important form of capital for the future, which is human capital,” noted Alex Duncan, the newly appointed Chairman of the Beit Trust. “Investing in people is the principle that underpins everything the Trust does, so we are delighted to have been CURE’s partners in investing in people in this way, and moving one step closer to a future where every child living with a disability in Zambia can access safe surgical care.”

A Sustainable Path to Life-Changing Care

Power outages in the past caused CURE Zambia’s operational costs to rise, as the hospital had to rely on generators. This dependency compromised the hospital’s ability to perform surgeries, run medical equipment, and provide post-operative care. Operating theaters need reliable electricity to power life-saving devices such as ventilators, anesthesia machines, and surgical lights. During load-shedding, even brief interruptions could delay or cancel surgeries, putting children’s lives at risk. For those recovering, stable power is essential to run monitoring equipment and life-support devices.
“The U.S. Government is proud to partner with organisations like CURE International, who are providing comprehensive care for children with treatable disabilities – because every child deserves the opportunity to feel included, to feel safe, and to thrive. The launch of the solar energy system is extremely timely as we all know and have personally experienced the impacts of load shedding in Zambia due to the drought,” noted Monica Bautista USAID/Zambia Acting Health Office Director.

 

 

“I am encouraged by CURE Zambia’s ongoing dedication to offering free services to vulnerable children with disabilities. This commitment to not only physical healing but also emotional well-being and spiritual support is remarkable and we will continue to support this cause as a ministry,” said Ministry of Health (MOH) Permanent Secretary Technical Services Mr. Kennedy Lishimpi.

 

“This alternative energy source reduces reliance on conventional power, lowering costs and operational costs, allowing the hospital to treat more children and increase its impact,” said Mr Peter Mumba, Ministry of Energy of Zambia (MOE) Permanent Secretary Technical Services. He further urged more health facilities to embrace alternative sources of power.

Increasing Capacity for Greater Impact

 

The extension of the children’s ward and the installation of a solar energy field represent more than just infrastructure improvements. These initiatives ensure that children like Rhoda receive timely surgical care without long waiting periods. Rhoda is a 10-year-old girl whose life was dramatically altered after she accidentally fell into a pot of boiling water, resulting in severe burns and a contracture on her right arm. The injury left her unable to straighten her wrist or elbow, making everyday tasks difficult.

 

 

Despite these challenges, Rhoda found hope at CURE Zambia, where she underwent reconstructive surgery that restored the use of her arm. Her journey is a testament to the compassionate care provided by CURE, and it is all thanks to the support of partners and donors that her recovery was possible.

 

“Our commitment to the well-being of these children knows no bounds. We strive not only to provide health care but also to nurture their spirits, offering them a holistic approach to health care that transcends borders and cultures. Today, as we expand our facilities and embrace sustainable practices, we reaffirm our dedication to this noble cause,” said CURE International CEO Justin Narducci.

Learn how CURE Zambia provides surgical care to children made vulnerable by disability around the world.

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