At the National Conference for Volunteering and Service (Oct. 2008), former President Jimmy Carter praised the efforts of Salud del Sol. This non-profit organization is developing a solar powered autoclave for distribution to impoverished areas around the world. They had won honors earlier in the year for the successful implementation of their business plan. The recognition from Mr. Carter was another well deserved accolade.
The team of students won a $10,000 prize in the 2008 UD business plan competition. The group (comprised of Lori Hanna, Dan Hensel, Anna Young, and Lauren Dokes) was the first non-profit ever to win the award. Their innovations make it possible for remote areas in developing countries to have access to sterilized medical equipment.
These locations usually do not have electrical power to run standard sterilizers. In many cases there is not even access to indoor plumping. Significant adaptations are necessary when doctors work in this type of environment.
Now, life saving procedures that rely upon sanitary instruments can be more successfully performed just about anywhere in the third world. More teams of medical volunteers and professionals can go where treatment is actually necessary. This spares ill patients the ordeal of traveling dozens or even hundreds of miles on foot to seek proper care.
About Salud del Sol
The organization plans a production center for these machines in Sabana Grande de Totogalpa, Nicaragua. Their current main market plan focuses on Nicaraguan clinics and communities that are located in areas off-grid or in places where electricity is unreliable at best.
Their mission is “To provide communities in Nicaragua with the opportunity to improve their own healthcare systems while supporting sustainable development that creates jobs for members of these communities.” They are partners with Grupo Fenix and Las Mujeres Solares in Nicaragua. In the United States they are partnered with the University of Dayton ETHOS program and School of Business Administration.
As University of Dayton students, they made adjustments to a solar autoclave design to better meet the specific needs of people they want to help. The technology was successfully tested in the summer of 2008. During the fall of last year, these senior Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration students persisted with their plan and improved their design after the Nicaragua Ministry of Health granted them approval for continued research and development. As of January 2009, they continue to map out goals and objectives for their new company.
The group is currently in various transition phases as members graduate. After graduation in May 2009 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Dan Hensel will field test the new autoclave equipment in Nicaragua over the summer. Lori Hanna graduated in December of 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. She continues work on the project as the Executive Director. Anna Young earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Business Administration in May 2008. She is responsible for developing new programs and managing donor and corporate relations. Lauren Dokes graduated in May 2008 with a degree in Accounting. She still manages the financial resources for the company.
Salud de Sol members actively observe the efforts of other similar student groups and study their experiences with similar technology improvement projects. Their current business plan draws inspiration from the recent efforts of the Promethean Power Company which has developed a solar powered refrigeration system. This equipment is currently targeted for other areas of the world, such as India. The Promethean group was recent runner-up winner in MIT’s $100k Entrepreneurship Competition.
It is great to see these new autoclave designs being developed for locations that don’t have electricity. Of course, for labs and clinics that do have access to power, there are many more options available. Start your search for the perfect sterilization equipment with this free report.