Abstract:
The global COVID-19 pandemic causes hundreds of thousands of deaths and has created a catastrophic economic and health crisis around the World. Transportation, manufacturing industries, business and people\'s movement came to almost a halt and sharp oil and gas prices reduction were observed. The impact of the pandemic for sub-Saharan countries like Ethiopia, which was already struggling with many economic and social welfare problems, is more evident than in other wealthy nations around the World. In Ethiopia, the general energy access rate is 44% and in healthcare facilities is only about 10%. Therefore, the response for the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging, since activities such as information sharing, communication with health centers, diagnosis and medical treatment require electricity access. This paper aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on energy access plans during and post-pandemic. The paper analyzed, the status of the current COVID-19 outbreak in Ethiopia, the energy access situation in health facilities, and the impacts of COVID-19 on energy access during and post-pandemic periods. Data related to the universal energy access plan of Ethiopia, the impact of energy access on healthcare services and the impact of the pandemic were reviewed for the assessment. The analysis indicates that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopian healthcare facilities and on the overall universal energy access plan is immense and to minimize the global impact short and long-term policy responses are identified and urgently recommended. Furthermore, powering healthcare facilities with microgrids composed of solar panels and battery storage systems could be one cost-effective and sustainable solution for the speedy and effective response of the pandemic challenges.
摘要:
全球COVID-19大流行导致数十万人死亡,并在世界各地造成了灾难性的经济和健康危机。交通运输,制造业,商业和人民运动几乎停止,石油和天然气价格大幅下跌。大流行对埃塞俄比亚等撒哈拉以南国家的影响,已经在许多经济和社会福利问题中挣扎,比世界上其他富裕国家更明显。在埃塞俄比亚,一般能源使用率为44%,医疗设施仅为10%左右。因此,对COVID-19大流行的反应是具有挑战性的,由于信息共享等活动,与健康中心的沟通,诊断和医疗需要电力接入。本文旨在评估大流行期间和大流行后对能源获取计划的影响。论文分析了,埃塞俄比亚当前COVID-19疫情的现状,卫生设施的能源获取情况,以及COVID-19对大流行期间和后时期能源获取的影响。与埃塞俄比亚普遍能源获取计划有关的数据,评估了能源获取对医疗服务的影响和大流行的影响.分析表明,COVID-19大流行对埃塞俄比亚医疗机构和整个普遍能源获取计划的影响是巨大的,为了将全球影响降至最低,我们确定并紧急建议采取短期和长期政策应对措施。此外,使用由太阳能电池板和电池存储系统组成的微电网为医疗保健设施供电,可能是快速有效应对大流行挑战的一种经济高效且可持续的解决方案。