• Partnership expanding access to healthcare in underserved areas

bechtel.org, the social enterprise arm of Bechtel that delivers sustainable, scalable infrastructure projects to address local challenges, announced today a major achievement by the Health Electrification Telecommunications Alliance (HETA), a public-private partnership that includes bechtel.org.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed atop one of the 300 health facilities in Tanzania, Eswatini, and Nigeria.
HETA successfully brought clean, reliable solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to more than 300 health facilities in Tanzania, Eswatini, and Nigeria. This multi-year initiative addresses the challenge of access by providing electricity to essential healthcare services in underserved communities across Africa. Through photovoltaic (PV) systems, thermal energy is converted into electricity connecting thousands of health facilities digitally, which is critical for better health outcomes in these regions.

In Tanzania, bechtel.org field engineers played a pivotal role overseeing the delivery of 23 solar systems across 15 districts. The Bechtel team collaborated closely with other HETA partners such as Abt Global to develop crucial frameworks for quality standards, safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and a long-term plan to electrify thousands more facilities. Their efforts also involved reviewing more than 100 design solutions, training local service providers, and engaging numerous public and private stakeholders. A tailored approach in each country was a critical aspect of this expansion.

“There’s no cookie-cutter approach to this,” said Frank Fernandez, Project Manager of bechtel.org “Each country, province, or community has a unique set of social, economic, regulatory, and political circumstances that require a high degree of technical flexibility. As a founding member of HETA, bechtel.org is committed to increasing access to healthcare in Africa.”

Upon completion, the solar systems in Tanzania were officially handed over to the Christian Social Services Commission, a major healthcare provider in the country where the solar power and digital connectivity these installations provide allow extended hours, additional lifesaving services, and digitization of medical records to health facilities and the communities they serve.

With HETA gearing up for expansion across Africa, bechtel.org stands ready to provide continued support in supplying healthcare infrastructure for communities in need.

About bechtel.org
As the social enterprise arm of Bechtel, a U.S. global engineering and construction company based in Reston, Virginia, bechtel.org enables Bechtel’s commercial capabilities to deliver impact infrastructure projects. bechtel.org leverages more than 120 years of Bechtel’s innovation in infrastructure delivery. Bechtel has delivered 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents.

About HETA
HETA is a USAID Global Development Alliance (GDA), a powerful mechanism for activating private sector expertise and resources toward sustainable development objectives. Its goal is to reach 10,000 health facilities across the region. HETA started with four founding partners: Abt Global, RESOLVE, bechtel.org, and Orange.