Bình Hòa Nam village is home of about 6500 people. It is about 7 km from Đức Huệ town centre, Long An province, which is located 75 km from HCM City. To reach the village from HCMC, travellers have to go by car for about 2 hrs 30 minutes (through Đức Huệ) and then about 25 minutes by small boats. The local people make their living mainly by rice growing. Production is very low because many parts of the village are affected by acid sulphate (phèn). The living standard of the population is therefore very poor.
Bình Hòa Nam Health Centre
The health centre consists of 4 rooms and has 4 staff. It is the only centre available which provides basic health care for the local population, including emergency medical treatment and birth delivery. The most modern piece of equipment in the centre is a sphygmomanometer (to measure blood pressure).
Solar Lighting System
The village is not connected to the national electric grid. Therefore, there is no electric supply at the Centre. Vietnam Foundation installed for the Centre a solar electric system. The system is used for lighting of the examination room, birth delivery room, patients’ room, staff office and for powering a black & white TV. It is completed with 75Wp solar panel manufactured by BP Solar (Australia), charger/regulator, 100Ah accumulator, batteries and light fittings.
The solar panel provided by Vietnam Foundation
The control system
Contributions
The project was completed in December 1997. Contributors of the project included:
- BP Solar (Australia) for solar panels
- Vietnam Airlines for transportation
- Scitec Co. (HCM City) for customs clearance and storage
- SolarLab (HCM City) for installation and technical assistance.
Commemorative plaque
Cù lao (island) Lá is in Mỹ Hòa village, Ba Tri district, Bến Tre province. The island is about 20 km from Bến Tre. To get there from HCM City, travellers have to go by car through Ba Tri and then by small boats. The local population consists of about 700 families, with 4600 people.
Previously, the local people grew coconuts and engaged in light industries based on coconut production. However, due to salt water incursion, since the early 90s, they switched to sugar cane growing. Because the living condition is very hash, it is very difficult to attract health workers and teachers to stay there to provide services for the local population.
Cù lao Lá Health Centre
The Cù lao Lá Health Centre consists of 4 rooms including an examination room, birth delivery room, the patients’ room and the administrative office. As the island is not connected to the national electric grid, there is no electric supply at the Centre.
Vietnam Foundation provided the Centre with a solar electric system.
The solar panel provided by Vietnam Foundation
Solar Electric Sytem
The system is used for lighting of the examination room, birth delivery room, patients’ room, staff office and for power for a black & white TV. It is completed with 75Wp solar panel manufactured by BP Solar (Australia), charger/regulator, 100Ah accumulator, batteries and light fittings.
The control system
Contributions
The project was completed in December 1997. Contributors to the project included :
- BP Solar (Australia) for solar panels
- Vietnam Airlines for transportation
- Scitec Co. (HCM City) for customs clearance and storage
- SolarLab (HCM City) for installation and technical assistance
Commemorative plaque
Cù lao (island) Lá is in Mỹ Hòa village, Ba Tri district, Bến Tre province. The island is about 20 km from Bến Tre. To get there from HCM City, travellers have to go by car through Ba Tri and then by small boat. The local population consists of about 700 families, with 4600 people.
The village can only be reached by small boats
Previously, the local people grew coconuts and engaged in light industries based on coconut production. However, due to salt water intrusion, since the early 90s, they switched to sugar cane growing. Because the living condition is very hash, it is very difficult to attract health workers and teachers to stay there to provide services for the local population.
Cù lao Lá Primary School
The Cù lao Lá Primary School has 4 class rooms (for year 1 to year 4) and 4 residential teachers. Since the island is not connected to the national electric grid, there is no electric supply at the school. Vietnam Foundation provided the school with a solar electric system.
Installation of the solar panel
Solar Electric System
The system is used for lighting of the class rooms, staff office and power for TV reception. It is completed with 50Wp solar panel manufactured by BP Solar (Australia), charger/regulator, 100Ah accumulator, batteries and light fittings.
The control system and a black & white TV
Contributors
The project was completed in December 1997. Contributors of the project included:
- BP Solar (Australia) for solar panels
- Vietnam Airlines for transportation
- Scitec Co. (HCM City) for customs clearance and storage
- SolarLab (HCM City) for installation and technical assistance
Teacher can now mark students’ works under electric light