NHF commissions solar project at main warehouse with US $1.3m support from Direct Relief

It includes 950 high efficiency solar panels, supported by battery storage and inverters.The system forms part of the NHF’s energy conservation initiative and aligns with national efforts to expand renewable energy use across public sector facilities.Funded through a partnership with international donor organisation Direct Relief, the project represents an investment of approximately US1.3 million.Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, who gave the main address at the event, noted that the new solar installation is one of many ‘smart’ facilities which will become the standard in the Jamaican health sector.“It is almost expected that the NHF should now embrace the supporting infrastructure through technology, in this case the solarisation of this facility and others, as part of its growth and relevance, he said.Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness, spoke with passion at the event, sharing her encounter with Direct Relief over the years.“Thank you for all the support in the form of medication, training and inventory management and now this solar system,” she said. “It is just a wide variety and range of medical support that you have given over the years.Vice President of Programme Operations at Direct Relief, Genevieve Bitter, was also present.She said, “This facility plays a central role in safeguarding essential medicines, vaccines and health commodities. Reliable energy is not a luxury in pharmaceutical storage – it is a necessity.”At the ceremony, NHF Chief Executive Officer Everton Anderson spoke about the specific impact of the facility’s solar energy system.“For 80 per cent of the year, we are likely to be off the grid,” he said. “With the frequency of hurricanes we’re having and other disasters, this is more than savings only. This is about resilience.”He also explained that the new system, inclusive of its batteries and inverters, will allow the entire pharmaceutical division, including the warehouse, to protect its cold rooms, which are used to store refrigerated medications.NHF Board Chairman Shane Dalling described the initiative as a strategic investment aligned with national priorities.“This initiative future-proofs our operations in a world where energy costs are rising,” he said.“By embracing renewable energy, we are contributing to a national effort to build a more sustainable and energy-aware society, while ensuring more of our resources can be directed towards supporting the health and well-being of the Jamaican people,” he added.The Marcus Garvey Drive facility is the second NHF location to implement a comprehensive solar energy system, following a previous 6 million investment at its Greater Portmore Pharmacy.The new solar system, installed by Sun Terra Energy Solutions, is expected to deliver measurable savings while contributing to reduced carbon emissions.