Manzini- Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital is turning energy savings into improved healthcare after its newly launched one-megawatt solar plant slashed electricity costs by half, freeing up E2.4 million annually to expand diagnostic services and strengthen patient care.
Speaking during the official launch and handover of the one-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant, Nazarene Health Institutions (NHI) Chief Executive Officer Mazwi Mavuso said the facility has recorded a 50 percent reduction in electricity costs since the system was commissioned a year ago.
The savings amount to approximately E2.4 million every year, money that is now being channelled towards improving services at the hospital.
Mavuso said one of the first achievements made possible by the savings is the introduction of cytology services, laying the foundation for the establishment of a fully functional pathology unit.
“We have already begun redirecting these resources to strengthen services and expand diagnostic capability,” he said.
He added that while about E480,000 would be set aside annually for maintenance once the hospital assumes full responsibility for the plant in January next year, the remaining savings would continue supporting healthcare delivery.
Mavuso described the solar project as a milestone in building a sustainable and climate-resilient health system.
In addition to generating clean energy, the project has equipped the hospital with energy-efficient air conditioners, lighting, laundry equipment and replaced its coal-fired boiler with an electric system, reducing operational costs and carbon emissions.
He said the initiative demonstrated the impact of partnerships between government and development partners.
Mavuso thanked the Government of Eswatini for supporting the project and acknowledged the Government of Italy for financing the initiative, while also recognising the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its technical support and commitment to training hospital staff.
He assured stakeholders that employees had been trained to operate and maintain the solar infrastructure and that the facility is protected through fencing, dedicated security personnel and CCTV surveillance.
Mavuso said the investment would continue generating benefits well beyond energy production.
“Those savings are not merely numbers on a spreadsheet. They are tangible improvements in patient care,” he noted.
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