OSCE helps Kosovo health centre stay open in electricity crisis
The winter just ended was a very cold one in Kosovo. And an incident on the morning of 12 January could have had very serious consequences for some 200 patients in Rahovec/Orahovac health centre.
"We heard an explosion, followed by a smell of burning," says Shahzije Vuqiterna, one of 27 doctors working at the centre in western Kosovo. What they heard was part of the centre's generator blowing up.
Most health facilities in Kosovo still relay on generators for constant electricity supplies. The Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) is unable to supply enough electricity and power cuts are a frequent occurrence for the people of Rahovec/Orahovac.
When the generator caught fire, the centre was catering to four women who were about to give birth, several patients with injuries and a number of others who needed regular medical treatment for flu, stomach problems or other illnesses. Crucial medical equipment such as the x-ray machine and the refrigerator storing vaccines stopped working.
"For us, that was a reason to panic," says Dr Vuqiterna. "We did not know for sure when the power would come back on, if the generator could be fixed or how many emergency cases we would need to attend to. We also have a number of patients who are hospitalized and spend the night here. Without electricity we cannot work."
Going beyond monitoring
Normally the OSCE Mission in Kosovo's municipal teams monitor the work of public institutions. They check that human rights are respected and that the principles of rule of law and good governance are observed. But in emergencies, like the one in Rahovec/Orahovac, they go beyond monitoring and advising and do their best to help.
"When we heard that the generator in the health centre was failing and the power supply was under threat, we called a meeting and to see how we could help. The immediate response we came up with was to lend our generator to the centre," says Adem Kollari, one of the members of the OSCE municipal team covering the area.
The OSCE generator was handed over to the health centre within 72 hours. "We were just in time to replace the damaged generator, which was on the point of failing completely after the explosion and fire," Kollari adds.
The ABC of electricity
However, borrowing the generator is only a temporary solution. In the long term, a separate power supply line needs to be built between the local electrical sub-station and the health centre. Separating the centre's electricity supply from the rest of the town is the only way to make it more reliable.
Due to the low level of revenue collection, KEK runs a power supply scheme known as "ABC". Users are classified according to how regularly they make bill payments. "A" users pay regularly and have almost constant power. "B" and "C" users, who pay irregularly, are subject to power cuts. Four hours on, two hours off is what "B" users get.
"But health centres and hospitals are considered A+ users and should always have a constant power supply," says Dr Vuqiterna.
Seeking a permanent solution
Following the generator explosion in January, the OSCE municipal team initiated discussions with officials on finding a permanent solution.
"In the meantime we have decided to donate our generator to the centre, but this alone is not a durable solution. What we are doing now is facilitating discussions within the municipality on how to provide the centre with constant power and a separate connection to the KEK sub-station," explains Kollari.
Ejup Zeka of the municipal health directorate says that the municipality has already developed a project for the necessary power infrastructure, but funding remains an issue. "The municipality can cover up to 50 per cent of the overall cost, but the other 50 per cent will have to be found elsewhere," he says.
"We have persuaded the municipality to work on a long term solution," says Kollari. "We cannot lobby on their behalf, but we will monitor the process and the response from central government to their requests for assistance," he concludes.