March 10th- The Solar Suitcase-Improving Maternal Health in Northern Nigeria

Hear Dr. Laura Stachel on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 from 4:30-6pm in the Driscoll Hall Auditorium. This event is sponsored by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the College of Nursing.

Dr. Laura Stachel, a registered OB/GYN and adjunct professor at University of California, Berkeley,will present her work in bringing solar power to a maternal health clinic in Northern Nigeria. To aidin the reduction of maternal mortality, Dr. Stachel has developed a portable power system comprisinga solar panel, batteries and LED lights all packaged in a suitcase for ease of transportation.This system, the so-called “Solar Suitcase,” has allowed physicians to perform deliveries andoperations at night in places ranging from Nigeria to Uganda and, most recently, Haiti.

Dr. Stachel will discuss the factors that contribute to high rates of maternal death in NorthernNigeria, the conditions in the hospital and the need for improved infrastructure, and the impactof the Solar Suitcase technology in improving maternity care around the world.