Digital infrastructure
were common and posed risk to the life of patients, especially in intensive care units.
The recent installation of a sub-station at the referral hospital has brought huge relief to patients who queue up early in the morning to access quality medical care.
Beijing Sifang Automation Co., under a partnership with World Bank-funded Advanced Distribution Management System of Kenya Power, has established a ring main unit (RMU) to ensure stable electricity supply, not only to the hospital, but also to numerous public and private facilities in Nairobi and neighbouring districts. The unit is equipped with automated instruments manufactured in China.
The head of the hospital’s electrical section Peter Onyango said the installation of Sifang’s RMU has effectively eliminated power supply disruptions, notably enhancing the quality of care for patients with critical medical conditions.
“My baby recovered quickly in the incubators after she was born prematurely at seven months, thanks to the continuous electricity supply. I cannot imagine what would have happened if the power supply was erratic like other medical centres,” Hellen Kamau, a patient, said.
Onyango revealed that the previous gasoline-powered equipment to manage electricity supply was unreliable, and posed risks to patients in the intensive care wards due to power outages.
“With Sifang’s equipment, we can now remotely detect faults and promptly restore power, mitigating risks to patients,” He stated.
Francis Maina, project manager at Kenya Power, said that through a competitive bidding process, the Chinese company secured the tender to install RMUs, ensuring stable electricity supply at the country’s primary referral hospital.
“The partnership with Beijing Sifang has significantly contributed to the utility’s digitisation efforts, enhancing grid reliability while cutting down on fuel and maintenance costs for clients,” Maina added.
The RMU is a prime example of China’s contribution to Africa’s ongoing rapid urbanisation and regional integration, which will accelerate the pace of digital transformation on the continent and raise the prospects of digital economy.
From the Internet and e-commerce to mobile payment and digital infrastructure platforms, Chinese companies are actively participating in Africa’s digital transformation, helping the world’s second-most populous continent to catch up with other regions of the world. China has delivered to most African states innovative solutions in the realm of telecommunications, smart manufacturing, electrical automation and e-commerce, among others.
The partnership with Beijing Sifang has significantly contributed to the utility’s digitisation efforts, enhancing grid reliability while cutting down on fuel and maintenance costs for clients.
FRANCIS MAINA Project manager at Kenya Power
In Botswana, for instance, Chinese companies are actively involved in building a robust digital infrastructure. China Jiangxi International and Technical Cooperation Co. Ltd. is setting up the Digital Delta Data Centre. The state-of-the-art facility is housed in a two-storey building in Gaborone, the country’s capital, and is well equipped with support facilities. It will become the country’s largest data centre once completed.
“This facility is vital to ensuring Botswana’s network data security and we believe that it will transform the ICT ecosystem in Botswana,” said Keabetswe Segole, acting chief executive officer of Botswana Fibre Networks, the wholesale provider of national and international telecommunication infrastructure in Botswana.
For instance, Transsion, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has been Africa’s top smartphone seller for years. Through its popular mobile phone brands such as Tecno, Itel and Infinix, the company is now expanding to the area of mobile applications, attracting more and more users with its music streaming platform Boomplay, news aggregator Scooper News, and short video sharing platform Vskit, among others.
E-commerce is another area where China-Africa digital cooperation is rapidly expanding, which allows a growing number of Chinese companies to share their expertise in digital payment and entertainment, thereby boosting people’s living standards on the continent.
“I can’t remember the last time I took a flight to order spare parts from Beijing. China’s e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba have really facilitated my business and enhanced my profitability,” said Clement Chilufya, an auto spare parts dealer from Lusaka, Zambia.