Stakeholders partner to assist women adopt cleaner cooking technologies

Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] First Lady Rachel Ruto's Mama Doing Good initiative has partnered with the University of Liverpool and Uasin Gishu County government to support women to adopt clean cooking technologies. Hundreds of women in the region are to benefit from the new cooking technology, which is a transformation from the old cooking methods of firewood, posing health risks in households. Governor Jonathan Bii, who spoke in his office after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), said there is a need for creativity and innovation towards addressing issues that help counter the impact of climate change. He lauded the initiative to help rural households embrace clean cooking systems that are environment-friendly. "Mama Doing Good is a programme initiated by First Lady Ruto to transform lives in the county and protect forests too," said Bii. Bii said the usage of traditional methods like firewood for cooking had many effects on the health of women, especially in rural areas. "Smoke from firewood has harmed our women and children. We are glad the new initiative will help solve the challenge of smoke due to the use of firewood," he said. He lauded Mama Doing Good in collaboration with Liverpool University for coming up with the idea to improve standards of living and protect the environment. Mama Doing Good Director programs, Daniel Koome, said they are collaborating with the University of Liverpool, Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) and many other stakeholders willing to support the training of women on the new initiative. He said they chose Uasin Gishu as a pilot County and will work through round table banking programs with Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO), which has about 2,130 women groups. Training will also be in collaboration with the Ministry of Health through Community Health Promoters (CHPs). Koome said they will also use economic empowerment officers, adding that they are the expert agents on the ground to train women to transition to new technologies. He explained that Clear-Air (Africa) Global Health Research Group, partnering with the Ministry of Health, has been doing research since 2019 to track household energy, air pollution and health indicators through the new Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS). Koome further said recent research revealed that about 2,300 women die annually due to cardiovascular-related diseases, adding that they will sensitize more women to new technologies to curb risks. "We have asked stakeholders, including Total, and Kenya Power, among others, to help offer solutions like electric pressure cookers, induction cookers, LPG and Bioethanol equipment at affordable prices, to enable women to transition and reduce pollution, and this will enable us to reduce the number of trees they cut for firewood," Koome urged. Professor Daniel Pope of Global Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Liverpool, said Household Air Pollution is a global public health priority and is trying to address the challenge through research and technology. He revealed that about 2,300 women lose their lives every year due to cardiovascular diseases. The professor is an experienced researcher on the health impacts of household air pollution (HAP) from reliance on solid fuel for household energy in lower-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) and prevention strategies through clean cooking technologies and fuels. "The initiative will be a life-changing experience for our women, especially during the wet season when firewood is a hard commodity to find, but with the support I have learnt from the county government of Uasin Gishu and with the spirit from MaMa Doing Good, I am confident we will succeed on this health care mission," Koome added.

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