Dr. Laura Stachel’s mission is clear: “No woman should die giving life. Our vision is a world where every mother and newborn can survive childbirth in well-lit health clinics, and all health workers have the power to save lives.”
After a successful career as an obstetrician-gynecologist, a trip to Northern Nigeria changed the trajectory of Dr. Laura Stachel’s life. The experience of witnessing a hospital without electricity, where maternity wards were shrouded in darkness, led her to create a solution that could fit in a suitcase.
A New Light Dawns
A diagnosis of spinal disk disease altered the course of Stachel’s career, leading her from private practice to a focus on public health. But it was that eye-opening trip to Northern Nigeria that sparked a new purpose in her life. The lack of essential medical equipment and light in the hospital delivery room left a lasting impression on Stachel.
Her experience in Nigeria compelled her to take action, particularly after learning that over 100,000 health facilities in the global south lack reliable electricity. This realization led her to work with her husband, solar innovator Hal Aronson, to design and deliver compact solar electric kits to last-mile health centers.
Solar Powered Hope
Dr. Laura Stachel is now the Co-Founder and Executive Director at We Care Solar, an organization that creates and distributes solar suitcases to health facilities in need. These suitcases provide essential medical-surgical lights, phone charging capabilities, and rechargeable medical devices, enabling health workers to deliver effective maternal and newborn care.
Thanks to the We Care Solar Suitcases, safe childbirth has been made possible in nearly 50 countries across Africa, Asia, and South America.
Spreading The Light
We Care Solar has grown from a small volunteer effort to an award-winning NGO. Their “Light Every Birth” initiative, launched in 2017, aims to equip every public health facility with clean energy for safe deliveries. The organization has already equipped 8,500 health facilities, impacting the lives of over 14 million mothers and newborns.
Dr. Stachel emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving their mission, stating, “We work closely with government agencies and cultivate a network of experienced regional partners to identify health facilities in need and complement existing health programs.”
Lighting the Future
Dr. Stachel’s vision is to ensure that every woman has access to safe delivery by 2030, and she invites people of all ages to join their mission. Her dedication has been recognized with the 2024 AARP Purpose Prize, proving that innovation knows no age limits.
NaBeela Washington, an emerging Black writer, holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University and Bachelor’s in Visual Advertising from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been published in Eater, The Cincinnati Review, and others. Learn more at nabeelawashington.com.
