Project summary

Statement of the Problem

Neonatal jaundice is a critical public health issue in Nigeria, and it remains one of the leading causes of preventable infant mortality in the country. Affecting approximately 60% of full-term and 80% of preterm newborns globally, jaundice is a common condition that, if untreated, can lead to irreversible brain damage, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and even death. In Nigeria, the situation is particularly dire, with thousands of newborns losing their lives each year due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure, insufficient training of healthcare workers, and limited awareness among caregivers.

Despite being preventable and treatable, neonatal jaundice continues to claim thousands of lives annually due to several contributing factors:

• Limited awareness: Many families, especially in rural and underserved areas, are unaware of the symptoms or dangers of neonatal jaundice, often mistaking it for a harmless condition.

• Inadequate healthcare infrastructure: A significant number of healthcare facilities, particularly in rural regions, lack basic phototherapy devices and trained healthcare providers capable of diagnosing and treating jaundice effectively.

• Poverty and barriers to healthcare: Rural communities face significant challenges in accessing timely and quality healthcare services, further exacerbated by poverty, poor infrastructure, and cultural barriers to medical intervention.

  The scale of the problem is staggering: an estimated 1.5 million newborns are affected by neonatal jaundice annually in sub-Saharan Africa, with a substantial proportion of those cases occurring in Nigeria.Neonatal jaundice is  a preventable condition that is largely overlooked in public health interventions. In Nigeria, the lack of appropriate diagnostic tools, phototherapy equipment, and trained personnel continues to prevent effective management of the condition.

  This crisis demands urgent attention. By addressing the root causes — including lack of awareness, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and inadequate capacity building for healthcare workers — we can significantly reduce neonatal mortality rates in Nigeria. The proposed project,  NeoVoltaic: Saving Newborn Lives with Solar Power in Rural Nigeria seeks to tackle these challenges through a multi-faceted approach that combines public education, healthcare system strengthening, and community empowerment. The goal is to reduce neonatal deaths caused by jaundice by 20% within the three years, while improving early detection, timely treatment, and long-term outcomes for newborns across the country.

Summary:

Every year in Nigeria, thousands of newborns die from jaundice- a condition easily treatable with early intervention. In Sokoto and Borno States, where electricity is scarce, hospitals lack the power to run life-saving phototherapy machines. Mothers watch helplessly as newborns suffer — simply because there is no light.

• NeoVoltaic is here to change that.

  We are launching an integrated solution to save lives by:

  • Installing solar-powered phototherapy units and clean energy systems at 60 rural Primary Health Centres (PHCs)

  • Training 300 health workers and 12 local solar technicians for lasting impact

  • Launching LafiyarIyali, a WhatsApp chatbot offering maternal health education in local languages

  • Running community campaigns led by religious and traditional leaders to build trust and drive early healthcare-seeking behavior

    Real-Life Story:

    In a small rural village outside Maiduguri, Aisha gave birth to her first son.
    When he developed jaundice symptoms at two days old, the nearest hospital with working phototherapy was over 120 kilometers away.
    The family could not afford transport. They tried local remedies — but the boy’s condition worsened, and he passed away at six days old.
    

    With a solar-powered PHC near Aisha’s village, her baby’s life could have been saved.
    This is why NeoVoltaic matters.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

• Save the lives of over 30,000 newborns annually by treating jaundice early

• Provide solar-powered phototherapy treatment in underserved rural clinics

• Train 300 health workers to diagnose and treat jaundice properly

• Empower mothers through a WhatsApp chatbot delivering critical health education

• Reduce CO₂ emissions by replacing diesel-powered generators with solar systems

How We Will Achieve Them:

• Deploy full solar systems and phototherapy equipment at 60 PHCs

• Conduct intensive, hands-on medical training for nurses and midwives

• Train local solar technicians for maintenance and sustainability

• Collaborate with religious and traditional leaders for public health campaigns

• Continuously monitor progress with field reports and feedback from clinics

How will this funding be used?

The $60,000 raised will be used for:

• $55,800 value of installations and training, with discounts secured from technology partners

• Solar Energy Systems: purchasing and installing solar panels and batteries

• Phototherapy Devices: acquisition of durable, solar-compatible phototherapy units

• Training Programs: covering curriculum development, trainers, materials, and workshops for health workers and technicians

• Digital Health Tool: development and rollout of the LafiyarIyali (in Hausa Language, meaning family life) WhatsApp chatbot

• Community Outreach: producing IEC materials (flyers, radio jingles, community meetings)

• Monitoring and Evaluation: hiring field officers and data collection

• Administration and Logistics: 7% for staff coordination, reporting, and project management

We aim to achieve high impact at a very lean cost, with detailed quarterly impact reporting.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

• CREACC-NG Core Team: Project management, clean energy, and healthcare integration experts

• HealthVoltaic Project Leads: Experts who previously managed solar-powered rural clinics

• Solar Engineers: In-house solar specialists with expertise in rural electrification

• Maternal and Child Health Experts: Doctors and nurses with field experience

• Community Mobilizers: Trained professionals in grassroots community engagement

• Tech Developers: Building the LafiyarIyali chatbot

  Proven Track Record:
  CREACC-NG has already delivered successful clean energy + healthcare solutions across Nigeria, including:

  • Solar-powered Healthvoltaic Clinics for Rural Communities

  • Village Solar Smart Outreach Centers

  • Solar-Powered Water Systems for Farmin

We have successfully delivered all funded projects on time and within budget, maintaining strong reporting and donor satisfaction.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

Possible Causes:

• Insecurity and instability in some rural areas affecting deployment

• Community resistance to new technologies if outreach is insufficient

Outcomes if it fails:

• Continued high rates of preventable newborn deaths due to untreated jaundice

• Missed opportunity to provide sustainable, renewable energy solutions to rural health centers

• Loss of community trust in future health interventions

Mitigation Plans:

• Engage community leaders and influencers early

• Work with local NGOs and health departments for security updates

• Partner with multiple technology suppliers to prevent equipment shortages

• Establish flexible contingency plans for high-risk areas

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

CREACC-NG board members contribute $1,500 while staff contribute $400 for this challenging issue that is causing human lives
Impact-Driven Monitoring:

• Donors will receive quarterly impact reports showing:

  • Number of newborns treated

  • Health center solar uptime

  • Success stories from mothers, nurses, and technicians.

Project Impact:

Save the lives of over 30,000 newborns annually.
Serve over 64,800 mothers and newborns directly each year.
Reach over 500,000 community members with health education.
Reduce over 500 tons of CO₂ emissions by replacing fossil generators.
Build local green jobs and a culture of sustainable healthcare.

Donate to NeoVoltaic — Bring Light and Life to Nigeria’s Most Vulnerable Newborns!

Every $50 saves a newborn. Every $2,000 powers a health center for years.
Your gift brings a future full of hope.

WATCH OUR PROJECT SHORT VIDEO- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hs3RrTkFnTLIR2zqvZLRGcAw5s97_oBs/view?usp=sharing