OB/GYN Dr. Laura Stachel and her husband may have revolutionized the way babies are delivered after dark in underdeveloped countries where electricity is spotty or non-existent. They load solar panels, batteries, LED lights, cords and switches into a plastic suitcase that can convert sunlight into electricity for later use.
The California couple's non-profit, We Care Solar, is ramping up to meet a huge worldwide demand. The idea seems simple, but the lack of light has been responsible for thousands of maternal deaths a year in many African countries, where seriously ill women are often turned
away from maternity clinics because there is no way to illuminate the
birthing procedure. Correspondent Spencer Michels spoke with Stachel for a report airing Wednesday on the PBS NewsHour broadcast. Here is an extended cut of their discussion.
