The solar ambulance 'Stella Juva' (Stella Juva), developed by students from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, is designed to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and electrical grids. This innovative vehicle can play a significant role in remote areas where access to electricity may be unreliable.
Development in Collaboration with Health Institutions
Yuna Basten, one of the innovators of this project, stated that the idea for developing this ambulance emerged after discussions with NGOs active in Africa. These organizations informed the development team that reliance on fuel and grid electricity could limit their ability to provide healthcare services.
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Features of the Solar Ambulance
'Stella Juva' is not just an ambulance; it functions as a mobile clinic. This vehicle can carry medical equipment including ultrasound scanners, portable X-ray machines, defibrillators, and refrigerators for storing medications. Solar panels provide the necessary energy for both the vehicle and medical equipment, but the available energy has allowed the development team to carefully select the necessary equipment.
This ambulance can travel up to 715 kilometers on a single charge under suitable conditions, with a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour. The prototype of this vehicle is being tested on the roads of Kenya, including dusty and rugged routes in Narok County.
A Transformation in Access to Healthcare Services
The development of this project is being carried out with consultation from health experts in the target communities. Jeffrey Sadra, project expert at Amref Health Africa, stated that this ambulance can assist healthcare workers in conducting diagnostic screenings in areas with limited access to electricity. He emphasized, "This ambulance allows us to conduct screenings for mothers and infants and identify problems in a timely manner."
This vehicle can also be useful in supporting referrals between local health centers and larger medical facilities. The World Health Organization estimates that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are served by health centers that either have no electricity or have unreliable electricity supply. For the developers of 'Stella Juva', the main challenge is to see whether mobile renewable energy can help both access healthcare services and provide reliable electricity. This project is still in the testing phase, and the team is evaluating the vehicle's performance under real conditions.
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