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An assessment of the impact of Electricity Power Outages on University

Students’ life, Lusaka, Zambia: A University perspective study

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Canadian Journal of Health Research

An assessment of the impact of Electricity

Power Outages on University Students’
life, Lusaka, Zambia
Crecious Phiri,1,2 Gabriel Mpundu,3 Eslone Chama,4 Mary Ngandu,5 Enock Lukulula Mwanza,3 Eby
Aluckal,6 Antony George Peediackel,7 Aneesh Sebastian,8 Mark Gera, 9 Nitin Mohan, 9,1 Ian Hanney, 9
Ayah Karra-Aly, 9,10 Urvashi Rathod, 9,10 Nilima Sibi Thottumkal, 11 Abe Abraham 9,10,12,

ABSTRACT were very much affected. The majority of

Introduction
Zambia has been facing immense challenges
concerning power outages or power rationing in
the recent past. This study aims to assess the
impact of power outages on UNILUS students’
routine and academic life, Lusaka, Zambia. This
study focused on the effects on students’ socio-
economic and school performances.
Methodology
Primary data was collected using a descriptive
cross-sectional survey and in-depth structured
interviews in questionnaire form by conducting a
quantitative study. The study sample included
twenty-one undergraduate students, seven from
each majoring stream: the school of law,
business, and public health at the University of
Lusaka, Zambia.
Data analysis
The SPSS software, Version 16 of the Windows
tool, was used in data analysis. A descriptive data
analysis on frequencies and percentages was
conducted on all the sections of the
questionnaire.
Results
The study showed that load shedding
dramatically affects all the students’ routine
life.42.9% of the students’ school performances
participants representing 85.7%, were
comfortable with load shedding occurring below
3 hours. Some students felt that the effects
would be more severe if load shedding were
carried out at night and in the rainy season,
representing the highest percentage of 57.1%
and 90.5%, respectively. Load shedding recorded
the most increased effects on home study
students at 61.9%, 81% were not affected at class
study,52.4% were not affected by online lessons.
The majority of students were affected by load
shedding when doing assignments representing
52.4%. Their health was also affected due to
some dietary disturbances caused by power
scarcity.
Conclusion
With the evidence from the results, it was
concluded that load shedding hugely affected the
daily routine and academic life, which involved
decreased studying time, especially at night time,
hence affecting their school performance.
BACKGROUND
Zambia is a land-linked country situated in the
Southern part of Africa with a total surface area
of 752,618 square kilometres and had a
population of approximately 15,473,905 in 2015
(Central Intelligence Agency, 2017). In recent
years, the electricity demand has been growing

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Canadian Journal of Health Research

day after day mainly due to industries’ growth,

advancements in technology, and improvements
in people’s lifestyles. The proliferation of extreme
weather events due to climate change and other
natural hazards is increasing in rate and effect
due to urbanization and have been linked to an
adverse influence on critical infrastructure and
water and sewage management, transport, and
electricity supply (IPCC, 2012). By 2015, the
Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) in Zambia
depended on hydro generation, which accounted The Kariba dam and power station in
for 2,269 MW (94.1%) of the national installed Zambia. Showing low water levels
capacity. The balance of 5.9 percent was from
diesel (92 MW), Heavy Fuel Oil (50 MW), and
Solar Photovoltaic (0.06 MW) generation plants
(Mwila et al., 2017). Electric utilities worldwide
struggle hard to sustain a balance between
demand and generation of power supply. Power
utility firms resort to electricity power rationing
or load shedding each time they face such a
discrepancy as Load shedding is considered
a strategy of controlling electricity outages (Eto
et al., 2004).
Zambia Electricity and Supply cooperation
(ZESCO) is the primary power utility institution in Load shedding is an integral approach
Zambia currently, and it has to generate, transmit implemented by electric utilities to maintain
and distribute electricity around the country. power system stability when they encounter
ZESCO is being run as a parastatal company and generation insufficiencies, lack of adequate
operating under the Republic of Zambia’s transmission and distribution capabilities or
faults (FarrokhShokooh and ShervinShokooh et
Government through the ministry of Energy and
was established in 1969 (www.zesco.zm). al., 2005). The primary alternative energy source
currently in Zambia is charcoal, followed by the
In the recent past, Zambia experienced a crippling
gas stove (Mukupa G et al.,2018).
electricity crisis. As the country struggles with a
560 MW power deficit, a situation likely only to
The issue of load shedding has been an essential
worsen as the electricity demand grows 200 MW
concern in public health considering its influence
annually (Chola, M,2015).
on people’s health. Still, of late, very little has
been published concerning this issue in the peer-
reviewed literature. The government and the
power utility company embark on putting in
measures in enhancing awareness programs and
interest in this issue of load shedding.
This research paper was undertaken to assess the
impact of load shedding on University of Lusaka
UNILUS Students’ routine and academic life by
Zambia Electricity Supplying cooperation

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Canadian Journal of Health Research
company (ZESCO) as a sole distributor of power
in the country.
RATIONALE
There has been an ever-increasing demand for
power owing to technological improvements,
rapid industrialization and urbanization. Electric
utilities worldwide make every effort to tackle the
power crisis circumstances and combat the
imbalance between the generation and demand
of power. The only alternative is to venture into
load shedding if encountered with the same
situation.
The justification of this research paper is to assess
the impacts of load shedding on students’ routine
life at UNILUS and to come up with measures that
can be put in place to mitigate the scourge of load
shedding. This will incorporate the general profile
of common effects on the life of students. This
includes the social-economic aspects, impacts on
their health, food safety during the load shedding
period, load shedding effects on lighting system
on their study times, and telecommunication
effects with references from the literature done
in other countries experiencing a similar crisis.
The economic as well as social and family life of
people has been affected to an extent. It has
been badly affecting the working and learning
hours and students’ career, performance at the
office and classroom after a point. The prices of
commodities increased day-by-day learning
hours and even the job, affecting the students’
psychological effects, family, and social life
effects.
The various approaches have been used to
examine the effects of load shedding on a
broader aspect of students’ routine life
outcomes. Two studies focused on food safety
during power outages and outlined the effects of
the poor diet and ultimately led to food-borne
infections if the food is poorly prepared (Kosa et
al., 2011; Katherine et al., 2012).
Some authors noted that electricity loss also
meant losing light (Jangi, 2012; Redlener, 2012).
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Light is vital in delivering safe and effective
healthcare in clinics or Hospital setup and its
importance in studying security.
Carbon monoxide poisoning was also cited in
some studies, which comes due to inappropriate
use of generators during extreme events has led
to rising in carbon monoxide poisoning (CDC,
2012; Iqbal, 2012).
Healthcare is increasingly relying on electricity
supply in day-to-day operations in hospital
equipment and other services that depend on
power (Department of Health, 2013; Redlener,
2012). The risk of mortality at Sub-Saharan health
care facilities is estimated to increase by 43%
each day because the power was out for 2 hours
or more (Apenteng, Opoku, Ansong, Akowuah, &
Afriyie-Gyawu, 2018).
The Impact Assessment of the Load Shedding was
done by two studies ( Helbing, 2005; Nepal
Electricity Authority, 2008/09) to critically
examine the effects on communication services
such as the internet, TV/Radio broadcasting.
Various studies noted the impact of power
outages on economic aspects, which has led to
inflation in several countries because of
disturbances in production due to power
outages, mainly in the industries which are the
cornerstone of the economies (Rosenberg;
Schurr, 1983).
Public health officers and educators can use the
survey findings to identify gaps in food safety
knowledge and practices, improve existing
educational materials, and ultimately reduce
foodborne illness risk among older adults
(Katherine et al., 2012).
The increasing load shedding impacts people’s
lives globally, contributing to difficulties in
students’ routine and academic life (Chema et al.,
2012). The students are very much affected in
their routine life in various ways such as food
preparations, washing, communication, media
accessibilities, compromised security, and
academic effects would include home studies,
writing assignments at home (Zambia
watchdog,2015). The impact of power shortage
3
Canadian Journal of Health Research
on daily routine life, school performance,
psychological factors and economic problems.
This could mean that there will be a reduction in
time for studying, social and family matters.
Power scarcities are a fact of everyday life in
several parts of the continent. Even developed
countries are subject to power shortages;
though, these are mostly short-term (weeks or
months) incidences. In developing countries,
particularly in regions like Africa, it can go several
years for new generating capacity to be
constructed or for the underlying factors (e.g.,
drought, civil conflict, financing) of the shortage
to be resolved New York Times, New York (2007).
Natural calamities (e.g., earthquakes, wildfires,
and hurricanes) and other events due to climate
change can be linked to a power outage, which
can compromise food safety and cause the
menace of foodborne illness. For instance, more
than 20 New York City (NYC) emergency
departments two days after the initial 2003
power outage experienced a statistically
significant rise in patient visits for diarrheal
disease due to probable contamination (Marx et
al., 2006).
The recent revelations from ZESCO that the
power utility campaign is now generating 500
megawatts instead of the average 1,050
megawatts at Kariba Power station entails that
the power electricity company is currently
generating less electricity by 50%. There is a
likelihood that this decline can deteriorate in few
months to come due to the main factor of lower
water levels at the Kariba Power station Dam. The
national power deficit of 50% can negatively
affect the end-of-year Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) due to inadequate production in critical
sectors such as Mining who are now required to
scale down their operations due to rationing of
power (CSPR, 2015). Power outages will worsen
household and national poverty levels as most
Zambians work in industries where power is
critical for production and maybe because of job
losses because of non-availability of power.
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The effect of power outages on health is diverse
and far-reaching. Healthcare is increasingly
relying on electricity supply in day-to-day
operations in hospital equipment and other
services that depend on power. Department
of Health ( 2013). A survey conducted in Japan
also revealed that 60% of the hospitals felt that if
generators failed, services such as emergency
surgery, hemodialysis, laboratory services,
imaging and sterilization would ao stopped
(Okamoto K, 2013). However, hospitals can face
limited fuel and difficulties in sourcing fuel for
generators in a longer duration of power outages
due to transportation and communication
difficulties. Drug storage is disturbed, such as
insulin which requires refrigeration for storage
(Schmidlin,2011).
Students studying by candlelight as load shedding
hits the stage. Picture: Jacques Naude/African
News Agency(ANA)
Power outages leading to an increase in health
problems like diarrheal diseases have been
acknowledged in the past ( Marx MAR et
al.,2006). Two studies focused on food safety
during power outages and found that citizens are
poorly prepared (Kosa et al.,2011; Katherine et
al.,2012). For instance, while it is common for
people in high-resource-rich settings to consume
refrigerated food, this is probably an unusual way
of storing food in a resource-poor environment.
This poses the question of how well people are
prepared for power outages in resource-poor
settings. On the one hand, backup mechanisms
may be inadequate or non-existent. There must
be lessons to be learned from resource-poor
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Canadian Journal of Health Research
settings on how best to adapt to life without
power. This is an area that should be taken into
consideration.
Some authors noted that electricity loss also
meant losing light (Jangi, 2012; Redlener, 2012).
Light is vital in the delivery of safe and effective
healthcare in clinics or hospital setup. In a survey
of 213 hospitals affected by the 2011 Japanese
tsunami, 121 hospitals had a temporary loss of
power, while in 12 hospitals, the emergency
power generators did not work at all (Suzuki et
al.,2013). Even in the community setting, light
prevents fates such as accidents in the home. It
provides a measure of well-being and security to
people who are otherwise alone and susceptible,
and it also offers the opportunity to learn, write
assignments, among others. Although the impact
of the loss of light on health was not directly
documented in the literature, the importance of
light in everyday clinical care is apparent.
Owing to power outages, prices of commodities
have been escalating in several areas and also
causing an impact on the economic life of people
and the financial condition of countries affected
by this power outage problem (Gavin van der
Nest, 2015).
However, the Republic of Zambia’s government
has come up with the initiative in addressing this
power rationing scourge by ensuring the 120 MW
Itezhi-tezi power station is commissioned and
hopefully be followed by 150 MW Maamba Coal
Powered Station (George et al.,2018). The latter
is most likely to slip in delivery. The combination
of economic system and energy system has led to
rising inflation, and almost every aspect related
to energy factor in productivity has been affected
highly. It has dropped the per capita income of
Zambia Jesuit Center for Theological
Reflection (2016).
Business firms will, in turn, most likely fail to
produce the actual output necessary to grow the
economy, and this cost of failure is transferred on
to the consumers as there is a massive shortage
of goods resulting in price hikes (George et
al.,2018).).
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CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Inappropriate use of generators as an alternative
power generation source of energy in extreme
events has led to rising carbon monoxide
poisoning (CDC, 2012). One study stated that the
most common reason for disaster linked to
carbon monoxide poisoning was generator use,
accounting for 54% of non-fatal cases and 83%
fatal cases. The other carbon monoxide poisoning
sources during power outages include heaters,
stoves, and charcoal(firewood) ( Iqbal, 2012).
Resorting to charcoal as one of the alternative
sources of energy has also contributed to
deforestation, leading to climate change. (Arnold
and Persson, 2003; May-Tobin, 2011).
COMMUNICATION
The Impact Assessment of the Load Shedding was
done by two studies ( Helbing, 2005; Nepal
Electricity Authority,2008/09) to critically
examine the magnitude of the load shedding
problem and its effect on media establishments
in particular and access to information to the
overall population in general in cases of the long
duration of power outages. The figures of load
shedding noted from one study indicated that
from 2003 to the present date, the situation is
getting more and more worrying and has
progressed from 2 hours a day to 4, to 8 and
finally up to 16 hours a day. This situation has
impacted many health service providers,
businesses, infrastructure projects, government
5
Canadian Journal of Health Research

programs and security forces. ( Nepal Electricity
Authority,2008/09).
Lusaka’s ethical committee (UNILUS). Informed
consent was obtained from the study
participants, and confidentiality was maintained.
Confidentiality was ensured by not using
participants’ names or any other identifying data.
They may have to ask any question regarding the
study was answered accordingly to make sure
that they have informed consent. The
participation was voluntary.

RESULTS
Among the characteristics captured included
Part A:
The demographic information such as sex, age,
Increased power cuts leading to using residential, majoring stream, level of study, range
charcoal as an alternative source of energy of family income/pocket money and part B dealt
with the assessment of load shedding effects on
This study utilized a school-based descriptive UNILUS students.
cross-sectional study and in-depth structured
interviews in questionnaire form. Simple random Table 8.1: Percentage distribution of sex of
sampling was conducted in this study from respondents
students in three majoring streams in law, Frequency Percent
business and public health at the University of
Female 12 57.1
Lusaka campus. A self-administered
questionnaire with closed or fixed choice Male 9 42.9
questions was used. This type of questionnaire Total 21 100.0
requires the respondents to answer questions by The study was conducted on both males and
choosing an option from several given answers, females, as shown in the above table 8.1, the
e.g. a box to be ticked, items to be ranked. The majority were females (51.7 %) and the rest were
first set of questions in the questionnaire (Part A) male (42.9 %).
comprised the demographic data of respondents,
i.e., Sex, age range from 18years to above 35 Table 8.2: Percentage distribution of age range of
years, the course they were majoring was in law, respondents
public health or business.
Frequency Percent
The collected data was organized, reviewed and
examined through quantitative analysis. 31-35 2 9.5
Statistical analysis was conducted using the 26-30 3 14.3
Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) 21-25 7 33.3
version 16, which was used to calculate
percentages through data frequencies and cross- 18-20 9 42.9
tabulations. This included descriptive statistics Total 21 100.0
such as frequencies and percentages. Weighted Indicates that most of the respondents were aged
frequencies were calculated for each survey between 18-20 years (42.9%), followed by 21-25
question. The research commenced after years (33.3%), 26-30 years (14.3 %) and finally 31-
permission was granted by the University of 35 years, indicating the lowest (9.5%).

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Canadian Journal of Health Research

Demonstrates 85.7 % as the highest in

Percentage distribution by place of residence of experiencing the load shedding in below 3 hours
respondents and the rest experienced the same percentage of
Categorizing the residential areas by description 4.8 % for between 3-6 hour, 7-9 hours and those
from high density, medium and low areas. for above 12 hours.

1. High-density areas-Mtendere and Table 8.6: Respondents’ distribution if load

Kalingalinga was 9.6%. shedding affects their life.
2. Medium-density areas-Kabwata, Chalala, Frequency Percent
Kamwala was 28.6 %.
yes 21 100.0
3. Low-density areas-Mass media, Lusaka West,
Table 8.8 indicates that all the respondents were
Longacres, Rhodespark, Zambia Air Force was
affected by the load shedding.
61.8.%

Table 8.3: percentage distribution of a majoring Table 8.7: Respondents’ distribution on how
stream of respondents many hours they thought load shedding was not
Streams Frequency Percent affecting their life that much.
Hours Frequency Percent
Public health 7 33.3
Above 12 hours 1 4.8
Law 7 33.3
7-9hours 1 4.8
Business 7 33.3 3-6hours 1 4.8
Total 21 100.0 Below 3 hours 18 85.7
Indicates that students from 3 schools were Total 21 100.0
equally distributed—each representing 33.3 %. Indicates that 85.7 % of the respondents were
not very much affected by load shedding of below
EFFECTS OF LOAD SHEDDING 3 hours; the rest recorded the same percentage
Fig: 8.4: Respondents’ distribution if they are of 4.8 % in 3-6 hours, 7-9 hours and above 12
experiencing load shedding in their routine life. hours.
Frequency Percent
Yes 21 100.0 Table 8.8: Respondents’ distribution on the time
No 0 00 the load shedding affects them more.
Frequency Percent
Indicates that all the research participants are
affected by load shedding in their routine life. Day time 9 42.9
Night time 12 57.1
Table 8.5: Respondents’ distribution range of Total 21 100.0
hours of load shedding they experience in 24
Indicates that most respondents, 57.1%, were
hours.
affected more at night time than daytime.
Hours Frequency Percent
Above 12 hours 1 4.8 Table 8.9: Respodents distribution on the season
7-9hours 1 4.8 the load shedding had a more substantial impact.
3-6hours 1 4.8 Frequency Percent
Below 3hours 18 85.7 Rainy season 19 90.5
Total 21 100.0 Cold season 2 9.5
Total 21 100.0

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Canadian Journal of Health Research

Indicates that the load shedding impacted more uninterrupted power supply (ups) emergency
on respondents in the rainy season with 90.5% lights.
and in the cold season with 9.5 %. Frequency Percent
Yes 8 38.1
Table 8.9.1: Respondents’ distribution on No 13 61.9
whether load shedding affected their life. Total 21 100.0
Frequency Percent
Indicates that most of the respondents of 61.9 %
yes 21 100.0 have not adopted the alternative power than the
Indicates that all the respondents’ life is affected rest who have adopted with 38.1%.
by load shedding.
Table 8.10.1: Respondents’ range performance
Table 8.9.2: Online classes being affected by load shedding.
Frequency Percent Frequency Percent
Yes 10 47.6 Very much affected 9 42.9
No 11 52.4 Somewhat affected 2 9.5
Total 21 100.0 A bit affected 5 23.8
Indicates that 52.4% were not affected on the line kind of affected 1 4.8
than those with 47.6%. Not affected 3 14.3
Total 20 95.2
Table 8.9.3: Home-based studies System 1 4.8
Frequency Percent Total 21 100.0
Yes 13 61.9 The table above demonstrates that those who
No 8 38.1 were very much affected recorded the highest
Total 21 100.0 percentage of 42.9 %.
Indicates that 61.9 % were more affected in
home-based studies by load shedding than those DISCUSSION
who were not, with 38.1 %. The discussion will be correlation descriptive
since load shedding will be due to some variables
Table 8.9.4: Assignments with existing relationships, which will help make
Frequency Percent better predictions. The respondents’ distribution
according to sex indicated that the majority was
Yes 11 52.4 female with the percentage of 51.7 %, and the
No 10 47.6 rest were male with 42.9 %. The female was the
Total 21 100.0 majority reason being that they were more
Indicates that 52.4 % was the highest in those willing to participate in the interview than men
affected by load shedding in assignments than who became so reluctant. The majority were
those not affected by 47.6 %. between 18 and 20years, and the least were aged
between 31-35 years, indicating the lowest of
ACTION TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO LOAD SHEDDING 9.5%. This could mean that the respondents who
took part in the research were all undergraduate
Table 8.10: Respondents distribution to whether level, judging by the majority’s age range
adopted any alternative (generators, distribution. According to the study design, they
were equally distributed with seven from the

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Canadian Journal of Health Research
three majoring streams of law, business and
public health, each representing 33.3 %.
The categorization on the area of resident
according to the density of the populations
where the respondents live because of the higher
the density, the more prone the hours of load
shedding and it showed the high-density areas
recorded the least number of participants with
9.6 %, followed by the Medium density areas with
28.6 % and finally the low-density areas are
recording the highest with 62%. The load
shedding affected all the University of Lusaka
students’ routine life and academic life. 95.5% of
the respondents’ diet is concerned, and this could
be due to some contributing factors such as
improper preparation of the food or even failure
to warm the food before eating, which can lead
to food poisoning, which can lead to diarrheal
diseases or even the schedule of eating regular
meals being disturbed (Marx MAR et al., 2006).
Water safety will get compromised because
water treatment is dependent on
electricity (Morley, 2012). The majority of
students of 81%, were not affected by load
shedding in the class study; this could be since
the school has a back-up system that switches on
automatically when the power utility undertakes
a power outage. Home studies were more
affected by load shedding, indicating 61.9 %
because students spend more time studying at
home. Assignments were being affected by 52.4
% of the students because the assignments were
mainly done at home. And with lower income
and they were not able to afford to purchase
alternative power supplies. Some online classes
are affected, but most such studies are done at
school where there are the internet and power
back up system 52.4%. The school performance
range of students who were very much affected
recorded the highest percentage of 42.9 %, which
can occur due to not submitting assignments on
time and compared the load shedding problem as
important as poverty, terrorism, and illiteracy.
The impact of load shedding was felt more on
respondents in the rainy season with 90.5% than
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the cold season showing 9.5%. This response
could be due to the issues of compromised
security in homes during the rainy season. The
cooking and studies would face the impact
because of no lights if no alternative power
supply were available. This increased demand for
electricity can lead to harm and deaths in
hospitals and electrocution in homes linked to the
blackout. The majority of the respondents were
affected more at night, with 57.1% than during
the day. This could imply that the respondents’
home or other activities are done out of school
time such as studying, writing assignments, or
even online studies will be affected. It can to also
affect their routine life leading to social isolation,
limited access to communication and media.
The majority of respondents indicated that 61.9
% had not adopted the alternative power when
encountered by load shedding, such as
(generators, uninterrupted power supply (ups)
emergency lights. This could be due to low-
income families’ low-income levels because the
majority were getting below K1000 as pocket
money. Those who would opt for an alternative
power supply with alternate options to power
supply were the majority of 61. This could mean
that an alternative power supply would lessen
the burden of load shedding, and routine and
academic life would not be affected much.
The strengths of this study included the
extraordinary cooperation rate from the
participants. Earlier studies well sustained the
results of the present study. A limitation of the
study was failing to capture the post-graduate
students because they all part-time studies with
different timetables. Some students were
reluctant to accept taking part in the interview,
thinking that I was using their information to
make money from the research. The sample size
was too small to generalize the results to the
whole population of UNILUS as the does not
comprise only the three schools used in the
study.
RECOMMENDATIONS
9
Canadian Journal of Health Research
It was recommended that the government put
more attention on this energy crisis. If delays in
addressing this challenge in energy will generate
more severe consequences on the country’s
overall economic situation and routine life. New
policies should be put in place concerning the
energy crisis according to the need and demand
of people as follows;
(i) Minimizing the total duration schedules of load
shedding to less than 3 hours in a day as the
majority, 85.7%, of respondents, would wish the
power utility to consider that suggestion.
(ii) Changing load shedding times to later in the
day would be less disturbing, particularly to low-
income households compared to the current
majority of the load shedding schedules, which
mainly in the morning from 6:00 am to 14:00 am.
This contributes to a lot of interference in
necessary preparations before going to school.
(iii) To address the issue of security and
disturbance in studies when at home, the
majority of respondents preferred load shedding
to be restricted to daytime and not at night, from
Monday to Friday. Therefore, the load shedding
schedules are required to be adjusted
accordingly.
(iv)Government should adopt alternative energy
resources to realize the need of the general
public. The preference for alternative power
supply (generators, uninterrupted power supply
(ups) emergency lights) source is highly
recommended for those who do not have the
option for supply, representing 61.9 % of
respondents. The reduction in alternative power
supply sources would assist the students in their
performances at school since most students’
(42%) performances are highly affected by load
shedding.
CONCLUSION
The study’s result deduced that load shedding
hugely affected the students’ daily routine life at
the University of Lusaka, and studying hours were
also decreased, especially at night time. Their
diets, performance at school were also affected.
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With the overwhelming demand and
dependence on electricity, power outages will
linger to have far-reaching effects on susceptible
people’s overall routine life who are increasingly
reliant on electrically driven technology. The
adoption of alternative energy sources such as
solar power systems, generators, uninterrupted
power supply (ups), emergency lights will
significantly improve the lives of the people in the
country instead of relying on hydropower alone.
From the scientific consensus foreseeing an
escalation in the frequency and magnitude of
extreme events due to climate change, the gaps
cited in the study need to be addressed to
mitigate the impact of power outages on global
health.
1 Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, School of
Public Health and Environmental Sciences,
Lusaka, Zambia.
2 University of Lusaka, School of Health
Sciences, Department Public Health, Lusaka,
Zambia
3 Dental Department, Levy Mwanawasa
University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia,
Africa
4 University Teaching Hospital, Pediatric Centre
of Excellence, Lusaka, Zambia.
5 Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, School of
Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia.
6 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mar
Baselios Dental College, Kerala University of
Health Sciences, Kerala, India
7 Government Dental College Kottayam, Kerala
University of Health Sciences, India
8 PMS College of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Kerala University of Health Sciences, India
9 ETIO Public Health Consultants, Toronto,
Canada.
10 Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,
Western University, London, Canada,
11 Universität Jaume Castello, Spain
12 Department of Public Health Dentistry,
Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Kerala,
University of Health Sciences, India
10
Canadian Journal of Health Research
13 Specialty of Dental Public Health, Faculty of
Dentistry, The University of Toronto, Canada
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