Campaign Mobilises Solar Lamps for Ebola-Hit West Africa

U.S.-based solar lighting company Nokero has joined forces with non-profit organisations Project C.U.R.E. and Music for Relief, and the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, to deliver 100,000 solar light bulbs to people living in parts of West Africa hit by the ebola virus. A gift of $10 to the ‘Shine Through Ebola’ campaign will provide two Nokero solar lights, giving roughly ten people access to safe, clean, renewable light. Music for Relief, founded by the rock band Linkin Park, has kicked off the campaign with a gift of 22,000 lights. Although the grip of the ebola outbreak is now weakening, it has crippled the health, education and economic sectors in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Over 10,000 schools have been closed in the region and 50% of the workforce has been made jobless. For around 90% of households, the only source of light after dark is kerosene lanterns, which are unhealthy and dangerous. ‘Most patients, when they are treated, go home to darkness – darkness where kids cannot read, women cannot see at night when they are going about their chores,” said Kandeh Yumkella, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and CEO for Sustainable Energy for All. “The whole family is in darkness.” The Nokero solar light bulbs will be delivered to the three affected countries by Project C.U.R.E. and distributed by government entities working on the ground. Home page photo credit: Nokero