District officials with health staff during the Solar PV and Saura e-Mitra training programme in Mon.
Mon, June 29 (MExN): A four-day training programme on the operations and maintenance of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and the use of the Saura e-Mitra app was conducted in Mon district from June 24 to 27, covering the District Hospital Conference Hall, Aboi Block, and Tobu Block.
The initiative was jointly organised by the SELCO Foundation and the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) to build the technical capacity of health staff working in solar-powered health facilities.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Mon, Dr Aonungdoktoshi Ao, in his keynote address, expressed gratitude to the NPCCHH and SELCO Foundation for facilitating the training. He acknowledged the collaborative nature of the initiative and emphasised its importance in strengthening grassroots health systems, particularly in off-grid and energy-deficient areas.
A total of 131 health staff from 80 solar-powered health centres under Mon district participated in the programme. The training covered a wide range of technical modules including solar panel inspection, preventive and corrective maintenance, battery health monitoring, inverter troubleshooting, fault identification, and safety procedures. Participants were also trained in routine cleaning, documentation practices, load management, and escalation protocols for technical support.
A key component of the training was the Saura e-Mitra app—an operational tool designed to streamline incident reporting and resolution for decentralised renewable energy systems in healthcare settings. Officials said the app would enhance system reliability and ensure quicker resolution of energy-related issues.
The sessions were facilitated by Imli, and were attended by Deputy CMO Dr Aonungdoktoshi Ao, Epidemiologist (IDSP) Dr Elizabeth, Senior Medical Officer Dr Nungshikokba (Aboi CHC), Senior Medical Officer Dr Khekhrie (Tobu CHC), and Block Programme Managers from Aboi and Tizit.
As part of a broader state initiative, officials stated that all solar-powered health centres across Nagaland will eventually be brought under a unified operational framework, with phase-wise training for health staff from other districts planned.
Currently, 524 health facilities across Nagaland have been solar-powered through the combined efforts of SELCO Foundation, UNDP, and the Nagaland Health Project, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare. In Mon district alone, 60 of the 80 solar-powered centres were supported by SELCO Foundation, while 20 were powered through the Nagaland Health Project.
