Ebola in Northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Thus far, we have chosen a specific engineering-based solution that impacts Ebola in the Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This solution is a small solar-powered washing machine that can sanitize clothes of the Ebola virus with high-temperature water. Here is some basic research we’ve collected on solar power!

• • For solar energy to be used, we need solar panels located on top of buildings to absorb light energy from the sun.
    • since this will primarily be used in hospitals, the top of these building is where solar panels would be located
    • however, we could also directly attach the solar panel onto the washing machine
  • The panels (small-medium) will use the sunlight to store energy 
    • These panels have an estimated cost of  $20-$30 American dollars
  • The weather in the Democratic Republic of Congo is mostly hot and humid.
    • According to ClimaTemps, “The average annual temperature of the Democratic Republic of Congo if fairly hot at 77.3 degrees Fahrenheit” (ClimaTemps n.d.), so it will not be difficult for the solar panel to collect light for energy.
  • The washing machines will be distributed initially to the 5 hospitals in the Northeast only then eventually to all of the hospitals in the county.
    • This way the washing machines can be implemented in the places with the highest number of Ebola patients first and eventually move out to small communities in central town places.
  • The 5 hospitals are Centre Hospitalier Monkole, Centre Hospitalier Nganda, Centre Medical de Kinshasa, Centre Medicale Diamant and Hospital Biamba Marie Mutombo

   

• Some links we found interesting:
• http://www.kinshasa.climatemps.com/temperatures.php

  https://apps.allianzworldwidecare.com/poi/hospital-doctor-and-health-practitioner-finder?PROVTYPE=HOSPITALS&CON=Africa&COUNTRY=Congo_Democratic_Republic_of_the&CITY=Kinshasa&choice=en

  • Check them out!