I want you to imagine something with me imagine that you’re one of the 15
imagine that you’re one of the 15
imagine that you’re one of the 15 million pregnant women this year who
million pregnant women this year who
million pregnant women this year who suffer a pregnancy complications but
suffer a pregnancy complications but
suffer a pregnancy complications but you’re not living in Oakland you don’t
you’re not living in Oakland you don’t
you’re not living in Oakland you don’t have access to the bay area hospitals
have access to the bay area hospitals
have access to the bay area hospitals you’re living in a small village in
you’re living in a small village in
you’re living in a small village in northern Nigeria you’ve never had
northern Nigeria you’ve never had
northern Nigeria you’ve never had prenatal care you’re by yourself on a
prenatal care you’re by yourself on a
prenatal care you’re by yourself on a dirt floor in a house that has no
dirt floor in a house that has no
dirt floor in a house that has no electricity and no water and you’ve been
electricity and no water and you’ve been
electricity and no water and you’ve been in labor now for two days after two days
in labor now for two days after two days
in labor now for two days after two days even you realize that something is very
even you realize that something is very
even you realize that something is very wrong and you ask your family if they
wrong and you ask your family if they
wrong and you ask your family if they can possibly pull together the resources
can possibly pull together the resources
can possibly pull together the resources to bring you to the nearest hospital
to bring you to the nearest hospital
to bring you to the nearest hospital they barter with neighbors and get some
they barter with neighbors and get some
they barter with neighbors and get some transportation and eventually take you
transportation and eventually take you
transportation and eventually take you for several hours to a hospital where
for several hours to a hospital where
for several hours to a hospital where they bang on the door a midwife ushers
they bang on the door a midwife ushers
they bang on the door a midwife ushers you in tries to understand why you’re
you in tries to understand why you’re
you in tries to understand why you’re bleeding so heavily tries to learn
bleeding so heavily tries to learn
bleeding so heavily tries to learn whether or not the baby inside you is
whether or not the baby inside you is
whether or not the baby inside you is still alive tries to think about how she
still alive tries to think about how she
still alive tries to think about how she can contact a doctor to perform a
can contact a doctor to perform a
can contact a doctor to perform a c-section to save your life and this is
c-section to save your life and this is
c-section to save your life and this is the only light available in the hospital
the only light available in the hospital
the only light available in the hospital this is the grim reality for millions of
this is the grim reality for millions of
this is the grim reality for millions of women around the world it’s part of the
women around the world it’s part of the
women around the world it’s part of the reason why women like these in
reason why women like these in
reason why women like these in sub-saharan Africa face a lifetime risk
sub-saharan Africa face a lifetime risk
sub-saharan Africa face a lifetime risk of dying during childbirth of one in 38
of dying during childbirth of one in 38
of dying during childbirth of one in 38 that means that most people know someone
that means that most people know someone
that means that most people know someone personally in their family or a friend
personally in their family or a friend
personally in their family or a friend who has actually died from something
who has actually died from something
who has actually died from something that we consider joyous here in the
that we consider joyous here in the
that we consider joyous here in the United States in fact 300,000 women lose
United States in fact 300,000 women lose
United States in fact 300,000 women lose their lives every year in childbirth
their lives every year in childbirth
their lives every year in childbirth that’s the same as two 747s filled with
that’s the same as two 747s filled with
that’s the same as two 747s filled with pregnant women crashing to the ground
pregnant women crashing to the ground
pregnant women crashing to the ground every single day why are so many women
every single day why are so many women
every single day why are so many women losing their lives part of the reason is
losing their lives part of the reason is
losing their lives part of the reason is that these women are core they’re not
that these women are core they’re not
that these women are core they’re not having access to education they don’t
having access to education they don’t
having access to education they don’t have access to health care but part of
have access to health care but part of
have access to health care but part of the reason lies in the health facilities
the reason lies in the health facilities
the reason lies in the health facilities themselves
themselves
themselves even when they arrive in a hospital like
even when they arrive in a hospital like
even when they arrive in a hospital like this one they may not get the care they
this one they may not get the care they
this one they may not get the care they need
need
need now I worked as a physician for many
now I worked as a physician for many
now I worked as a physician for many years in the Bay Area I delivered babies
years in the Bay Area I delivered babies
years in the Bay Area I delivered babies at Sutter healthcare at Alta Bates
at Sutter healthcare at Alta Bates
at Sutter healthcare at Alta Bates hospital I loved the job that I had but
hospital I loved the job that I had but
hospital I loved the job that I had but in 2002 when I was doing a c-section
in 2002 when I was doing a c-section
in 2002 when I was doing a c-section I felt the searing pain go down my back
I felt the searing pain go down my back
I felt the searing pain go down my back and I was brought to a hospital where
and I was brought to a hospital where
and I was brought to a hospital where they actually did an MRI and told me
they actually did an MRI and told me
they actually did an MRI and told me that my spine
that my spine
that my spine looked like the spine of a 70 year old
looked like the spine of a 70 year old
looked like the spine of a 70 year old woman I had actually had degenerating
woman I had actually had degenerating
woman I had actually had degenerating vertebrae and I had vertebrae that were
vertebrae and I had vertebrae that were
vertebrae and I had vertebrae that were pinching the nerves to my arms and I had
pinching the nerves to my arms and I had
pinching the nerves to my arms and I had to stop my clinical career and for about
to stop my clinical career and for about
to stop my clinical career and for about a year I was doing physical rehab just
a year I was doing physical rehab just
a year I was doing physical rehab just to get to the point where I’d be able to
to get to the point where I’d be able to
to get to the point where I’d be able to sit or stand long enough to actually be
sit or stand long enough to actually be
sit or stand long enough to actually be able to participate in life as I used to
able to participate in life as I used to
able to participate in life as I used to know it but I was not allowed to go back
know it but I was not allowed to go back
know it but I was not allowed to go back and become a clinical physician well one
and become a clinical physician well one
and become a clinical physician well one of the things I had always been
of the things I had always been
of the things I had always been interested in was public health care and
interested in was public health care and
interested in was public health care and even though I could no longer treat
even though I could no longer treat
even though I could no longer treat women in an operating room myself I was
women in an operating room myself I was
women in an operating room myself I was able to go to a hospital and this
able to go to a hospital and this
able to go to a hospital and this hospital I went to was called cope and
hospital I went to was called cope and
hospital I went to was called cope and Guyon hospital it’s right here this is a
Guyon hospital it’s right here this is a
Guyon hospital it’s right here this is a hospital that serves the city of 1.5
hospital that serves the city of 1.5
hospital that serves the city of 1.5 million people and even though it was a
million people and even though it was a
million people and even though it was a hospital that was caring for 150
hospital that was caring for 150
hospital that was caring for 150 deliveries every single every single
deliveries every single every single
deliveries every single every single month this is what labor and delivery
month this is what labor and delivery
month this is what labor and delivery looked like it was a far cry from what I
looked like it was a far cry from what I
looked like it was a far cry from what I knew from the hospitals around here
knew from the hospitals around here
knew from the hospitals around here there were none of the monitors there
there were none of the monitors there
there were none of the monitors there was no privacy there were another
was no privacy there were another
was no privacy there were another machineries that I was so accustomed to
machineries that I was so accustomed to
machineries that I was so accustomed to yet some of the women arriving there
yet some of the women arriving there
yet some of the women arriving there were some of the sickest women I had
were some of the sickest women I had
were some of the sickest women I had ever seen in my career and one of the
ever seen in my career and one of the
ever seen in my career and one of the things that also didn’t have was
things that also didn’t have was
things that also didn’t have was reliable electricity what does it mean
reliable electricity what does it mean
reliable electricity what does it mean to be a hospital without a reliable
to be a hospital without a reliable
to be a hospital without a reliable electricity it means that surgeons like
electricity it means that surgeons like
electricity it means that surgeons like these ones have to perform c-sections in
these ones have to perform c-sections in
these ones have to perform c-sections in them in the ambient light of the day
them in the ambient light of the day
them in the ambient light of the day because they don’t have electricity at
because they don’t have electricity at
because they don’t have electricity at night it means that women who need blood
night it means that women who need blood
night it means that women who need blood transfusions need to rely upon family
transfusions need to rely upon family
transfusions need to rely upon family members to donate blood because there’s
members to donate blood because there’s
members to donate blood because there’s no refrigerator to keep it fresh it
no refrigerator to keep it fresh it
no refrigerator to keep it fresh it means that women like this one on the
means that women like this one on the
means that women like this one on the left
left
left in an emergency c-section waited for
in an emergency c-section waited for
in an emergency c-section waited for hours because there was no intercom
hours because there was no intercom
hours because there was no intercom system to allow people to call for help
system to allow people to call for help
system to allow people to call for help and the only way to get a doctor was
and the only way to get a doctor was
and the only way to get a doctor was actually to get a messenger who could go
actually to get a messenger who could go
actually to get a messenger who could go around the hospital to look for a doctor
around the hospital to look for a doctor
around the hospital to look for a doctor to perform the c-section and by the time
to perform the c-section and by the time
to perform the c-section and by the time he came it was too late and she lost her
he came it was too late and she lost her
he came it was too late and she lost her baby and it meant that at night this is
baby and it meant that at night this is
baby and it meant that at night this is what it looked like in the maternity
what it looked like in the maternity
what it looked like in the maternity ward this Midwife was actually taking
ward this Midwife was actually taking
ward this Midwife was actually taking care of dozens of patients but there was
care of dozens of patients but there was
care of dozens of patients but there was no light in the room that could show
no light in the room that could show
no light in the room that could show that I began telling stories to my
that I began telling stories to my
that I began telling stories to my family about what I was seeing in
family about what I was seeing in
family about what I was seeing in Nigeria and one of the people I spoke to
Nigeria and one of the people I spoke to
Nigeria and one of the people I spoke to was my husband Hal Aronson who was doing
was my husband Hal Aronson who was doing
was my husband Hal Aronson who was doing solar energy in California now Hal heard
solar energy in California now Hal heard
solar energy in California now Hal heard the stories that I just shared with you
the stories that I just shared with you
the stories that I just shared with you and thought immediately that solar
and thought immediately that solar
and thought immediately that solar electricity can make a big difference
electricity can make a big difference
electricity can make a big difference for this hospital how developed a solar
for this hospital how developed a solar
for this hospital how developed a solar electric kit that he could pack inside
electric kit that he could pack inside
electric kit that he could pack inside my suitcase so that I could actually
my suitcase so that I could actually
my suitcase so that I could actually bring a demonstration to my colleagues
bring a demonstration to my colleagues
bring a demonstration to my colleagues in Nigeria and when I unpacked it I
in Nigeria and when I unpacked it I
in Nigeria and when I unpacked it I shared it with them and people were
shared it with them and people were
shared it with them and people were immediately excited they said this could
immediately excited they said this could
immediately excited they said this could help us save lives right now I said
help us save lives right now I said
help us save lives right now I said we’re actually bringing a much larger
we’re actually bringing a much larger
we’re actually bringing a much larger solar electric system to the hospital
solar electric system to the hospital
solar electric system to the hospital and they said no you don’t understand if
and they said no you don’t understand if
and they said no you don’t understand if you leave this here it’ll help us
you leave this here it’ll help us
you leave this here it’ll help us immediately well we did bring in a
immediately well we did bring in a
immediately well we did bring in a larger solar electric system and the
larger solar electric system and the
larger solar electric system and the hospital went from having an operating
hospital went from having an operating
hospital went from having an operating theater that looked like this to looking
theater that looked like this to looking
theater that looked like this to looking like that and we also brought in enough
like that and we also brought in enough
like that and we also brought in enough solar powered blood-bank refrigerator
solar powered blood-bank refrigerator
solar powered blood-bank refrigerator and over the next year the maternal
and over the next year the maternal
and over the next year the maternal deaths in the hospital went down by 70%
deaths in the hospital went down by 70%
deaths in the hospital went down by 70% [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and the Goodman were no longer being
and the Goodman were no longer being
and the Goodman were no longer being turned away at night and I thought we
turned away at night and I thought we
turned away at night and I thought we were done but people on the hospital
were done but people on the hospital
were done but people on the hospital began bringing me to outlying clinics
began bringing me to outlying clinics
began bringing me to outlying clinics and saying this is the doctor who
and saying this is the doctor who
and saying this is the doctor who brought a solar and the clinician said
brought a solar and the clinician said
brought a solar and the clinician said well why are you only helping the big
well why are you only helping the big
well why are you only helping the big Hospital we are also in the dark and so
Hospital we are also in the dark and so
Hospital we are also in the dark and so we realized that the problem that we
we realized that the problem that we
we realized that the problem that we were seeing in the hospital was one that
were seeing in the hospital was one that
were seeing in the hospital was one that was actually important throughout the
was actually important throughout the
was actually important throughout the area there so we ended up creating these
area there so we ended up creating these
area there so we ended up creating these small solar electric kits that I would
small solar electric kits that I would
small solar electric kits that I would bring back with me each time we would go
bring back with me each time we would go
bring back with me each time we would go to Nigeria I would pack my bags and
to Nigeria I would pack my bags and
to Nigeria I would pack my bags and smuggle inside my suitcase one of these
smuggle inside my suitcase one of these
smuggle inside my suitcase one of these small solar electric kits and soon what
small solar electric kits and soon what
small solar electric kits and soon what we had were people that were helping us
we had were people that were helping us
we had were people that were helping us to build these so this is actually not
to build these so this is actually not
to build these so this is actually not very far from here about a mile away in
very far from here about a mile away in
very far from here about a mile away in our back yard our back yard turned into
our back yard our back yard turned into
our back yard our back yard turned into a solar suitcase assembly plant we would
a solar suitcase assembly plant we would
a solar suitcase assembly plant we would have friends and neighbors come on every
have friends and neighbors come on every
have friends and neighbors come on every weekend we would start trying to build
weekend we would start trying to build
weekend we would start trying to build these kits trying to keep up with demand
these kits trying to keep up with demand
these kits trying to keep up with demand for these solar electric skits that then
for these solar electric skits that then
for these solar electric skits that then we would bring to other countries but
we would bring to other countries but
we would bring to other countries but soon we began to get requests from
soon we began to get requests from
soon we began to get requests from around the world and we no longer could
around the world and we no longer could
around the world and we no longer could keep up and thanks to a grant from the
keep up and thanks to a grant from the
keep up and thanks to a grant from the MacArthur Foundation we were actually
MacArthur Foundation we were actually
MacArthur Foundation we were actually able to start building these in a
able to start building these in a
able to start building these in a factory and so now we make these in
factory and so now we make these in
factory and so now we make these in Fremont and were able to send them
Fremont and were able to send them
Fremont and were able to send them around the world
around the world
around the world so what does it mean to have a favorite
so what does it mean to have a favorite
so what does it mean to have a favorite [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so the solar suitcase has everything a
so the solar suitcase has everything a
so the solar suitcase has everything a regular solar electric system has it has
regular solar electric system has it has
regular solar electric system has it has solar panels it has a charge controller
solar panels it has a charge controller
solar panels it has a charge controller it has batteries and it also has highly
it has batteries and it also has highly
it has batteries and it also has highly efficient equipment that really helped
efficient equipment that really helped
efficient equipment that really helped the health workers so things like lights
the health workers so things like lights
the health workers so things like lights and phone charging and a fetal monitor
and phone charging and a fetal monitor
and phone charging and a fetal monitor with the solar electric it it means that
with the solar electric it it means that
with the solar electric it it means that midwives now have light to be able to
midwives now have light to be able to
midwives now have light to be able to work through the night it also means
work through the night it also means
work through the night it also means that health workers can now have a way
that health workers can now have a way
that health workers can now have a way to charge cell phones that they can call
to charge cell phones that they can call
to charge cell phones that they can call for help
for help
for help when it’s needed they’re able to have a
when it’s needed they’re able to have a
when it’s needed they’re able to have a fetal monitor that allows them to be
fetal monitor that allows them to be
fetal monitor that allows them to be able to listen to a baby its baby’s
able to listen to a baby its baby’s
able to listen to a baby its baby’s heartbeat and they’re able to provide
heartbeat and they’re able to provide
heartbeat and they’re able to provide resuscitation so they have light at
resuscitation so they have light at
resuscitation so they have light at night to be able to provide
night to be able to provide
night to be able to provide resuscitations when they’re needed
resuscitations when they’re needed
resuscitations when they’re needed so we’re also using them in operating
so we’re also using them in operating
so we’re also using them in operating theaters to be able to perform
theaters to be able to perform
theaters to be able to perform c-sections through the night but
c-sections through the night but
c-sections through the night but technology alone is not enough
technology alone is not enough
technology alone is not enough what’s important is to be able to have
what’s important is to be able to have
what’s important is to be able to have an education program to really support
an education program to really support
an education program to really support people to understand how to use
people to understand how to use
people to understand how to use technology so we began teaching health
technology so we began teaching health
technology so we began teaching health workers how to use solar electric
workers how to use solar electric
workers how to use solar electric systems and how to optimize the use of
systems and how to optimize the use of
systems and how to optimize the use of these kits and soon we were going to
these kits and soon we were going to
these kits and soon we were going to villages that had never seen any
villages that had never seen any
villages that had never seen any electricity I love this picture it’s
electricity I love this picture it’s
electricity I love this picture it’s actually from Sierra Leone and it’s
actually from Sierra Leone and it’s
actually from Sierra Leone and it’s showing a health facility that we were
showing a health facility that we were
showing a health facility that we were training people at and the entire
training people at and the entire
training people at and the entire village came to the window because no
village came to the window because no
village came to the window because no one had ever seen electric lights before
one had ever seen electric lights before
one had ever seen electric lights before and soon we found that the health
and soon we found that the health
and soon we found that the health providers themselves would become
providers themselves would become
providers themselves would become fantastic teachers and so we began to
fantastic teachers and so we began to
fantastic teachers and so we began to train midwives and doctors to become the
train midwives and doctors to become the
train midwives and doctors to become the teachers themselves to train their peers
teachers themselves to train their peers
teachers themselves to train their peers and even that wasn’t enough some of them
and even that wasn’t enough some of them
and even that wasn’t enough some of them wanted to get on top of the roof and
wanted to get on top of the roof and
wanted to get on top of the roof and become the solar installers so we
become the solar installers so we
become the solar installers so we created a solar ambassador program and
created a solar ambassador program and
created a solar ambassador program and we decided since we’re treating women in
we decided since we’re treating women in
we decided since we’re treating women in health care why not have a group of
health care why not have a group of
health care why not have a group of women ambassadors so we brought women
women ambassadors so we brought women
women ambassadors so we brought women from around the world and we trained
from around the world and we trained
from around the world and we trained them about maternal health care about
them about maternal health care about
them about maternal health care about solar electricity and now these women
solar electricity and now these women
solar electricity and now these women lead train-the-trainer programs around
lead train-the-trainer programs around
lead train-the-trainer programs around the world these programs have gone to
the world these programs have gone to
the world these programs have gone to many countries we partner with agencies
many countries we partner with agencies
many countries we partner with agencies like Save the Children UNICEF Pathfinder
like Save the Children UNICEF Pathfinder
like Save the Children UNICEF Pathfinder 2/pi go
2/pi go
2/pi go and ministries of health themselves so
and ministries of health themselves so
and ministries of health themselves so that local health technicians learn how
that local health technicians learn how
that local health technicians learn how to do installations they learn how to
to do installations they learn how to
to do installations they learn how to take to teach health workers and they
take to teach health workers and they
take to teach health workers and they learn how to repair equipment as well
learn how to repair equipment as well
learn how to repair equipment as well but this point we’ve reached more than
but this point we’ve reached more than
but this point we’ve reached more than 2600 health facilities in more than 20
2600 health facilities in more than 20
2600 health facilities in more than 20 countries
countries
countries [Applause]
but we know that there’s a lot of work
but we know that there’s a lot of work to be done to be done there we estimate
to be done to be done there we estimate
to be done to be done there we estimate that there’s more than 200,000 health
that there’s more than 200,000 health
that there’s more than 200,000 health facilities in need of reliable
facilities in need of reliable
facilities in need of reliable electricity so we’re just we’re just
electricity so we’re just we’re just
electricity so we’re just we’re just touching the tip of the iceberg and in
touching the tip of the iceberg and in
touching the tip of the iceberg and in addition to maternal health care we know
addition to maternal health care we know
addition to maternal health care we know that electricity is crucial for other
that electricity is crucial for other
that electricity is crucial for other forms of medical care so after the Ebola
forms of medical care so after the Ebola
forms of medical care so after the Ebola outbreak we sent solar suitcases to
outbreak we sent solar suitcases to
outbreak we sent solar suitcases to Sierra Leone and Liberia where health
Sierra Leone and Liberia where health
Sierra Leone and Liberia where health workers were trying to disturb lished
workers were trying to disturb lished
workers were trying to disturb lished who had Ebola and who didn’t in clinics
who had Ebola and who didn’t in clinics
who had Ebola and who didn’t in clinics that didn’t have even light so we
that didn’t have even light so we
that didn’t have even light so we provided these two holding centers and
provided these two holding centers and
provided these two holding centers and checkpoints to help there and after the
checkpoints to help there and after the
checkpoints to help there and after the earthquake in Nepal we got this picture
earthquake in Nepal we got this picture
earthquake in Nepal we got this picture so this picture is showing a man who was
so this picture is showing a man who was
so this picture is showing a man who was climbing an avalanche carrying a solar
climbing an avalanche carrying a solar
climbing an avalanche carrying a solar suitcase on its back he’s trying to
suitcase on its back he’s trying to
suitcase on its back he’s trying to reach this health facility and this
reach this health facility and this
reach this health facility and this health facility was one that didn’t have
health facility was one that didn’t have
health facility was one that didn’t have any power and soon we realized this was
any power and soon we realized this was
any power and soon we realized this was a major issue
a major issue
a major issue so we’ve now sent hundreds of solar
so we’ve now sent hundreds of solar
so we’ve now sent hundreds of solar suitcases to Nepal where they’re helping
suitcases to Nepal where they’re helping
suitcases to Nepal where they’re helping damaged health centers and they’re also
damaged health centers and they’re also
damaged health centers and they’re also helping temporary medical facilities
helping temporary medical facilities
helping temporary medical facilities that are set up in tents like these so
that are set up in tents like these so
that are set up in tents like these so that some of the 126 6000 pregnant women
that some of the 126 6000 pregnant women
that some of the 126 6000 pregnant women who were still in need of care after the
who were still in need of care after the
who were still in need of care after the earthquake could get the life-saving
earthquake could get the life-saving
earthquake could get the life-saving care they need so this is a picture from
care they need so this is a picture from
care they need so this is a picture from Puerto Rico and we were asked to send
Puerto Rico and we were asked to send
Puerto Rico and we were asked to send solar suitcases there because we know
solar suitcases there because we know
solar suitcases there because we know that 95% of the population right now is
that 95% of the population right now is
that 95% of the population right now is without reliable electricity
without reliable electricity
without reliable electricity [Applause]
even as our programs grow and we work
even as our programs grow and we work with partners on larger initiatives I’m
with partners on larger initiatives I’m
with partners on larger initiatives I’m always reminded of the power of even one
always reminded of the power of even one
always reminded of the power of even one solar ckase so this is a story about a
solar ckase so this is a story about a
solar ckase so this is a story about a man who’s in the orange t-shirt his name
man who’s in the orange t-shirt his name
man who’s in the orange t-shirt his name is Jacques sabes aho he’s a doctor from
is Jacques sabes aho he’s a doctor from
is Jacques sabes aho he’s a doctor from the DR Congo he called us one day and
the DR Congo he called us one day and
the DR Congo he called us one day and said could you please send a solar
said could you please send a solar
said could you please send a solar suitcase to me immediately I’m in New
suitcase to me immediately I’m in New
suitcase to me immediately I’m in New York I’m headed back to the dr congo my
York I’m headed back to the dr congo my
York I’m headed back to the dr congo my clinic has no electricity
clinic has no electricity
clinic has no electricity well we shipped it overnight and taught
well we shipped it overnight and taught
well we shipped it overnight and taught him on skype how to use it and we said
him on skype how to use it and we said
him on skype how to use it and we said please call us the minute you get to the
please call us the minute you get to the
please call us the minute you get to the dr congo
dr congo
dr congo so we can help you to make sure you
so we can help you to make sure you
so we can help you to make sure you really know how to use this well and
really know how to use this well and
really know how to use this well and provide any support we didn’t hear from
provide any support we didn’t hear from
provide any support we didn’t hear from him for weeks and I was worried that
him for weeks and I was worried that
him for weeks and I was worried that maybe his equipment was confiscated
maybe his equipment was confiscated
maybe his equipment was confiscated along this journey when he finally
along this journey when he finally
along this journey when he finally called he apologized he said the day
called he apologized he said the day
called he apologized he said the day that I arrived I did help to deliver a
that I arrived I did help to deliver a
that I arrived I did help to deliver a mother with twins but the next day there
mother with twins but the next day there
mother with twins but the next day there was an outbreak of cholera and for the
was an outbreak of cholera and for the
was an outbreak of cholera and for the next 30 days I took care of a hundred
next 30 days I took care of a hundred
next 30 days I took care of a hundred and twenty two mothers fathers and
and twenty two mothers fathers and
and twenty two mothers fathers and children with this dreaded disease he
children with this dreaded disease he
children with this dreaded disease he said in the past I used to lose 50% of
said in the past I used to lose 50% of
said in the past I used to lose 50% of my patients to cholera and 80% of those
my patients to cholera and 80% of those
my patients to cholera and 80% of those deaths happened at night he said for the
deaths happened at night he said for the
deaths happened at night he said for the first time in the history of our island
first time in the history of our island
first time in the history of our island nobody died
nobody died
nobody died [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
and he said we are witnessing what light
and he said we are witnessing what light means in communities where night means
means in communities where night means
means in communities where night means death to those in need of emergency care
death to those in need of emergency care
death to those in need of emergency care after the Sun Goes Down so at the
after the Sun Goes Down so at the
after the Sun Goes Down so at the beginning I asked you to imagine a world
beginning I asked you to imagine a world
beginning I asked you to imagine a world of darkness now I want you to imagine a
of darkness now I want you to imagine a
of darkness now I want you to imagine a world of light I want you to imagine a
world of light I want you to imagine a
world of light I want you to imagine a world where every Health Center no
world where every Health Center no
world where every Health Center no matter how remote has electricity and
matter how remote has electricity and
matter how remote has electricity and lighting so that health workers can
lighting so that health workers can
lighting so that health workers can provide care imagine a world where
provide care imagine a world where
provide care imagine a world where mothers no longer need to bring candles
mothers no longer need to bring candles
mothers no longer need to bring candles or kerosene lanterns as part of their
or kerosene lanterns as part of their
or kerosene lanterns as part of their birthing kit where midwives no longer
birthing kit where midwives no longer
birthing kit where midwives no longer need to be fearful of going to work at
need to be fearful of going to work at
need to be fearful of going to work at night that world is possible I invite
night that world is possible I invite
night that world is possible I invite any of you here to join us we’re trying
any of you here to join us we’re trying
any of you here to join us we’re trying to ensure that every woman has the right
to ensure that every woman has the right
to ensure that every woman has the right to safe delivery with essential
to safe delivery with essential
to safe delivery with essential electricity we’re trying to light every
electricity we’re trying to light every
electricity we’re trying to light every birth thank you so much
birth thank you so much
birth thank you so much [Music]
”
Be First to Comment