Zainab Nayaro, study manager at TICC, former nursing school director

We are meeting under the mango tree to have a conversation with Zainab Nayaro and to tap into her knowledge around the issue of access to the grid. Zainab formerly head of a nursing school in Tanga. Now she has just assumed the position as a Study manager here at Tanga International Conference Center.

We start to ask Zainab about how people get light if they don't have access to electricity.

• People use kerosene lamps This is a cost, but also a risk. Lots of people die because of fires caused by kerosene lamps or candles. Kerosene is really expensive. That is why people are using small lamps, because it is too expensive to run the larger lamps. We have many dispensaries (health clinics) around Tanga without access to electricity. They also have to rely on kerosene lamps.
  

Tell us about your work

• I was head of a nursing school in Tanga. When I started as principal there was a lot of nurses working without training. We changed this so they could become nurses, and now we train nurses on a regular basis. The vision has become to a bachelors degree. The nursing training is 3 years, both practical and theoretical. In this the students go out to the communities to understand the situation of the people and for practical learning.
  

We understand many health clinics does not have electricity, how do the nurses handle that??

• Of course, the school is giving them the lamps, because they can't work without light. As a nurse, you have to know the environment, and you have to bring the torch with you. But if the battery is out, then the torch wont work. And the torch also only gives a concentrated light, when you need to light up a room. There is solar light, but we cannot afford it. We even have schools in town that does not have electricity because they cannot afford to connect to the network.
  
• Having access to light also would make it possibly for schools to have evening classes. This would mean that people who are working could have a possibility to increase their knowledge.
  

The HiLight brings light and charges phones. How important is charging?

• Oh many have phones. But they have to go to town to charge, or send the phone with someone going there. Some are even considering generators. But they are very noisy and it is costly with gasoline.
  

If you had electricity, what would be the priority?

• Well, I actually have electricity in my house, that I use for TV, light, for a fridge, and for cooking. But electricity is expensive and I try to use a pressure cooker to save energy when cooking. When people here get access to electricity, I see the main priorities like this:
  

1. Light
   
2. Fridge
   
3. Television
   

• Power shortages are a real problem here. Sometimes it can go on for a day. But we have power shortages every day. As for the school I was managing, we are poor and sometimes it is not possible to pay. Then they power company might just cut off the electrity.
  
• I imagine, if this can work, and if this is not too expensive, this would be very interesting.
  

Would you like to become a HiLight Tester?

• Yes, I would like to. Very much so.
  

Well, here is your HiLight. We will meet you in your home on Sunday. Asante sana for your time!