Donors making a difference: Solar-powered internet to save lives in remote villages

Motufia Ariniiti wakes early each morning with the rising sun to prepare for a busy day ahead. As the medical assistant at Rawannawi Health Center, on Marakei Island in Kiribati, Motufia is responsible for overseeing the busy health centre, as well as the island’s 4 other health facilities. 

Marakei is a ring-shaped atoll, 1 of 33 scattered across a vast distance in the central Pacific that make up the island nation of Kiribati.

^{Motufia Ariniiti, medical assistant at Rawannawi Health Center, on Marakei Island in Kiribati. © WHO / Morrison Tabokai} 

Working in such an isolated and unique setting means that Motufia’s work delivering health services can be quite challenging. Fortunately, a reliable high-speed internet connection, powered with solar 24/7, was recently installed to help alleviate some of the difficulties faced on the remote island. 

The Rawannawi Health Center is 1 of 15 health-care facilities to receive the installation of internet with solar power thanks to the Making Health Adaptation for the Future Resilient Islands - Kiribati Outer Islands for Climate Health Action (Te Mamauri Project), implemented through a partnership between the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This multi-year US$ 6 million project is generously funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The project aims to strengthen health systems, health-care facilities, schools, and communities in Kiribati – with an emphasis on outer islands like Marakei – to protect and improve population health in a changing climate.   

Health workers, such as Motufia, are on the frontlines facing the extraordinary pressure climate change puts on the communities of Kiribati.   

Rising sea levels, coastal flooding and erosion could render islands like Marakei uninhabitable this century. The threat to health includes water insecurity, food insecurity and exposure to severe weather and increased storm surges. 

“Kiribati is a special place to call home, but it is increasingly difficult to face the impacts of climate change here,” Motufia shared. “We do our best to serve our communities even in the face of rising seas and difficulties with water, food and supplies. It is not easy.” 

These health impacts are an additional burden on an already fragile health system and community. 

These conditions make internet connectivity even more crucial for health workers in remote places, allowing them to consult specialists in the main island of South Tarawa, a 3-hour boat ride or 15-minute plane ride away. 

The internet provision not only saves health workers’ time but helps to save lives. 

_{The internet connection alongside medical equipment inside the health centre. © WHO / Morrison Tabokai}

Since installation in February 2025, Motufia has utilized the upgraded connectivity to respond to road accident injuries and illnesses such as scabies and ringworm. 

As Motufia described, “We are able to reach the specialists in Tarawa who support us via telemedicine.” In critical situations this means that patients can be better supported and assessed and prioritized for referral as needed. 

Previously, Motufia and her colleagues depended on unreliable internet access, with some of the island’s health facilities in black spots with no connectivity at all. 

As Motufia noted, “Communicating with these areas was challenging, and I had to travel by bike to check on them and inquire about their needs. There were instances where there was no connection at all. At times, we experienced up to 2 days without internet access. Now communication is seamless.” 

The upgraded internet connection also means the Marakei health team can receive critical updates concerning severe weather events which will help with preparedness and response efforts for natural disasters, cyclones and other weather-related events. 

_{Colleagues from WHO and Kiribati Ministry of Health and Human Services enter the Raweai Health Clinic, a smaller health facility Motufia oversees on Marakei Island, Kiribati. © WHO / Morrison Tabokai} 

In addition to providing the connectivity and solar kits to operate it, the Te Mamauri project has trained Motufia and other Marakei health workers on climate-sensitive disease surveillance and outbreak response. 

The project is also renovating 3 clinics on Marakei island and installing larger solar panels to replace dependency on diesel generators and will provide sufficient power for the clinic to operate more effectively. 

Shifting to sustainable energy sources also reduces the health system’s greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. It will also help to build climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, support 4 primary school gardening projects to improve food security and empower communities to reduce the health risks of climate change.  

As Dr Wendy Snowdon, WHO Country Liaison Officer to Kiribati, stated, “The Te Mamauri project is addressing climate change impacts on health. Through infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and improved surveillance of climate-sensitive diseases, the health system can become climate resilient.”  

_{A local plane lands on remote Marakei island bringing medical equipment. © WHO / Morrison Tabokai}