Research by health experts abound in the fact that firewood and charcoal, traditional cooking fuels for many households, are not only outdated but are silent killers.Firewood and charcoal have long been staples in kitchens in almost every rural home across the country. However, the health risks associated with their continued use are alarming.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), indoor air pollution from traditional cooking methods like burning firewood is responsible for over four million deaths worldwide each year.
The figure is alarming and the impact is devastating, particularly for women and children who are disproportionately exposed to the harmful smoke.
Respiratory illness, heart problems and eye damage are just a few of the serious conditions that can develop from prolonged exposure to pollutants released by firewood and charcoal.
It is for this reason that The Chronicle supports awareness campaigns on the health hazards of the use of firewood or charcoal. We, therefore, commend the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), which has been educating the public on the need to transition from firewood to using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
We have been made aware of a campaign on LPG as an alternative to firewood and charcoal by the NPA, collaborating with the Local Council of Churches in Kpando, Volta Region, a campaign we fully support on health grounds.
The public education on the use of LPG should continue to go down to the remote communities, especially those who assume that it is expensive to use gas.
We will suggest that the NPA, while advocating for the use of LPG, particularly in the remote communities, should consider a programme to support locals to own cylinders to start with.
We even think that the government, through its cylinder recirculation module, can give cylinders to the people at a low or no cost, knowing that under the programme, a person will not use the same cylinder all the time.
It is changed anytime you go to buy gas. Now, should the government subsidise the cost of cylinders or if possible, give them out for free, and with the cylinder recirculation module, people can buy the gas at a cheaper amount, which may attract more people to use gas, especially on health grounds.
Experts say LPG burns cleanly, emitting far fewer harmful pollutants compared to firewood and charcoal. The smoke from firewood and charcoal contains dangerous chemicals like carbon monoxide and carcinogens, which can lead to respiratory diseases, heart problems and eye damage.
By switching to LPG, households can significantly reduce their risk of these health conditions. The WHO links exposure to traditional biomass smoke to over four million premature deaths globally every year. By using LPG, people avoid inhaling toxic fumes, reducing their chances of developing serious respiratory diseases.
The reliance on firewood and charcoal leads to deforestation, which contributes to the loss of biodiversity and exacerbates soil erosion. Using LPG, a cleaner and more efficient fuel, reduces the pressure on forests, helping to conserve natural ecosystems.
We have learnt that LPG burns more efficiently than firewood or charcoal, producing lower greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, contributing to mitigating climate change.
Switching to LPG also helps in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 7, 13, and 15, which deal with good health and well-being, affordable and clean energy, climate change, and life on land, respectively.
The Chronicle is of the opinion that some households continue to use firewood and charcoal for many reasons. These excuses may include a lack of public education on the dangers associated with the use of the traditional methods. We, therefore, advocate for intensive and sustained public education, as it is crucial in reorienting the minds of some people.
We also think that the cylinder, which is the first cost to using LPG, should be subsidised if not given for free, and the gas itself should be more accessible and affordable, especially to those in rural areas. This can be achieved through policy support and infrastructure development to serve the people.
It is our view that addressing clean cooking goes beyond switching fuels, as it requires a comprehensive strategy as we have mentioned above, as well as financial support and safety measures.
