Samsung’s Solar Powered Health Centre has made this improbable sounding idea a reality.

The idea of the health centre developed over several years. “For years we have been providing medical services to rural areas in Africa through our annual Employee Volunteer Programmes, so we were well
aware of how many people were in need of quality medical treatment across the continent,” says Modimoeng, the Corporate Citizenship Manager at Samsung.

The clinic was put into service in April, and will accommodate up to 300 patients daily. It operates with three solar panels on its roof, which can expand to five panels if needed. This is used in conjunction with an unleaded fuel generator, and an external plug is pulled out where there is a power point.

The 7m long truck contains ear, dental, and eye clinics and a mini laboratory where blood analyses can be done. Tests for HIV, malaria, diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions are available, with results
produced immediately. A prescription can be printed and given to the patient, who then needs to collect the medication from the nearest government clinic or hospital.

“The centre will move around the country on a regular basis and will not be stationed in one particular area,” says Modimoeng.  There will be two medical professionals in the eye and blood clinics, he adds, a dentist and dental assistant in the dental clinic, and one professional in the ear clinic.  There will be an x-ray machine in the dental clinic.

The vehicle cost Samsung R2.25-million with equipment and medicines paid for by the company, in consultation with the departments of Health and Social Development, NGOs, pharmaceutical companies and universities to help funding, explains Modimoeng. Other partners will include medical universities and organisations that are involved in health care, like World Vision.

Samsung Africa’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy involves a sustained focus on three key areas: education, health care, and rural connectivity â€" in line with the company’s global ‘Hope for Children’ initiative. This initiative was launched globally to bring attention to the need for childhood education and health care. It was realised that you cannot separate education and health, with the idea that “if a child cannot hear or see properly, they can’t learn properly”.

Working in rural areas, the company realised that most people had neither the money nor the time for a long journey to their local clinic. They tended to only go to the doctor when they were gravely ill. “The Solar Powered Health Centre complements our commitment to both education in Africa and extending basic services to rural communities,” Modimoeng says.

Future plans will take the health care initiative beyond South Africa’s borders, into East and West Africa. Samsung would like to broaden the scope of the medical provision through ultrasound scanning, a
mother and child clinic, and general medical practitioner. Also, education and health have been combined right at the door of the mobile health centre â€" a television under electronic awnings will screen educational health and sports information while patients wait their turn to see a doctor.

The immediate plan is to reach a million people with the health centre. “This will contribute to Samsung’s bigger goal to reach five million lives in Africa by 2015,” indicates Modimoeng.