LocationsHow Solar Energy is Transforming Healthcare in Samangan Hospitals
January 26, 2026
"We once asked the patient’s family to bring a light. They brought a mining lamp. That is how surgeries were sometimes done”.
Soghra Jafary, a nurse, has worked in Bazar Sokhta District Hospital in Afghanistan’s Samangan province for more than a decade, and has many stories like these.
Afghanistan faces a major energy deficit: more than 80% of the population still lacks access to reliable and stable electricity, and needs are constantly growing. Most electricity is imported from neighbouring countries, and supplies are erratic and unreliable.
On average, homes in Afghanistan receive just 5-10 hours of electricity a day, and, especially in remote areas such as Samangan, the lights can go out suddenly, without warning. That is a major inconvenience for a household, but for a hospital or health centre, the lack of electricity can be a matter of life or death.
"We had a well-built hospital, but without electricity, many critical services were simply impossible," recalls Dr. Azita Nasratzada, a maternity specialist at the same hospital.
At another Samangan hospital, Do-Ab District Hospital, similar issues are faced.
“We could not safely use fuel heaters, and we lacked functioning incubators, warmers, and NICU equipment,” says Dr. Arezo Fayaz. “Providing proper care was extremely difficult, and many patients, especially newborns, had to be referred to the nearest provincial hospital, even when they were too fragile to travel.”
In 2025, thanks to UNDP’s SESEHA project, both facilities received a 100-kW solar PV system, bringing clean, reliable, and consistent energy that now powers the full range of their services – from life-saving surgeries and neonatal care to routine diagnostics and daily operations.
In simple terms, a 100-kW solar power system produces the equivalent electricity to power 50-60 average Afghan homes simultaneously, or as much as 3-4 large diesel generators. The difference is, of course, that this is clean, renewable energy that is cheap to produce.
At Bazar Sokhta, the PV system now powers 35 rooms, enabling 43 dedicated health workers to provide uninterrupted care to more than 6,300 patients each month.
At Do-Ab DH, where patient demand is even higher, reliable electricity now supports services for over 13,500 patients monthly, and has transformed daily operations, according to the Administrative Manager, Ewaz Murad Tatar.
“Our capacity to provide quality services has improved across all departments. Previously, X-ray services depended on generators. Fuel costs were high, image quality was poor, and procedures took longer. Today, with solar power, images are clear, and services are faster. We also did not have hot water in toilets and bathrooms before, which was especially difficult during winter. Now, staff and patients always have access to warm water.”
Between 2023 and 2025, UNDP’s SESEHA Project supported 22 health facilities across Samangan Province, and 126 health facilities across the whole country.
Across Afghanistan, reliable solar energy is enabling clinics to operate life-saving medical equipment, allowing schools to extend learning hours, and helping communities access safer, more functional public facilities — demonstrating how sustainable energy solutions translate into tangible, people-centered outcomes.
Beyond supporting health facilities through the adoption of renewable energy, the SESEHA project aims to equip a total of 1,347 facilities nationwide by 2027, including 1,024 schools, 323 clinics and hospitals. Since 2023, UNDP has already supported 470 health and educational facilities, benefitting more than 865,178 people, nearly 61% of whom are girls and women.
