Global Health Research Group advises women to avoid wood/charcoal smoke

By DOH JAMES SONKEY
In prelude to this year’s edition of the International Day of the Rural Woman to be observed tomorrow Tuesday, October 15, 2019, a group of scientists under the cover of Global Health Research Group organized last October 11, 2019 at the Mbalmayo Party Hall in the Nyong and So’o Division of the Centre region, a sensitization workshop for women on how to reduce exposure to smoke derived from wood/charcoal. Chaired by outgoing Divisional Officer of Nyong and So’o recently promoted SDO, Auguste Essomba, the workshop was organized in partnership with Global LPC Partnership, the Douala General Hospital, the University of Liverpool in North-western England, National Institute for Health Research etc.

In one of the four presentations, the Coordinator of Clean Air Africa project in Cameroon, Dr Bertrand Mbatchou explained that “the project is carried out in Cameroon, Ghana and Kenya to help fight against air pollution in households. We are here to know what is holding back households from using less polluting energies. We work with the ministries of Public Health, Environment etc and at the end of our information gathering, we shall submit the results to these ministries for exploitation.”
It was revealed at the occasion that 4.3 million people die each year in the world due to air pollution within the house/kitchen. It is said such pollution causes 34% cardiovascular accidents etc.
On the health risks, Prof Bertrand Mbatchou explained that “with the 3-stones fireside separated from the main house, the rate of pollution is 36 a bit above the 25 level set by WHO, and when it is installed on the veranda, the rate of pollution is above 200. So you can see how dangerous it is.”
He added that “despite the fact that pollution affects our health, the process in getting the wood/charcoal leads to the destruction of forest/environment. Premature births are at times caused by air pollution due to mother’s exposure to smoke as she cooks food.”
Declaring that “The two best clean energy sources to be used by households are first, electric cooker and secondly gas cooker,” Prof Mbatchou advised that “if you cannot afford to have these, make sure your kitchen is well airy.”
He concluded by advising women to avoid staying beside fire for long but to sit somewhere and only come and check if the meal is ready.
The workshop was crowned by a photo exhibition on exploring barriers and practical solutions for uptake of clean cooking, using photo voice methods taken from Limbe, Buea and Mbalmayo.