Solar is bringing a new world to women in Zimbabwe

A solar power project in a remote community in Zimbabwe is encouraging women to give birth in hospitals, and reducing their workload

For a woman in parts of rural Zimbabwe the cost of two candles can be the difference between health and hunger, even life and death.

Because many health clinics are far from the grid and lack electricity and therefore light, expectant mothers are told to bring their own candles when they feel that labour is approaching. But as primary care needs worker Merjury Shoko explains: "Two candles cost a dollar, which is the same as paying to go to the grinding mill to grind maize for your child's dinner. That is a real dilemma for some women. Do I go to the clinic now, or do I feed my children? It's obvious they prefer to go to the mill." As a result many women leave it until the last minute to walk to the clinic, and many do not make it in time and give birth by the roadside, often at night.