PROJECT BREATH CLEAR AIR; FCTA PILOTS DISTRIBUTION OF COOKING GAS IN GWAGWALADA
By: Doris Jonah & Chukwurah Chukwunonso
After concluding Community Engagement for advocacy and mobilization of beneficiaries, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has piloted the second phase of distribution of free cooking gas cylinders to 2500 household across six Area Councils of the territory.
The project which is supported by IHS Nigeria; Towers of Strength was piloted at the premises of Gwagwalada Township Clinic in Sabon Gari Area of Gwagwalada Area Council.
At the event, the Mandate Secretary FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) Dr. Dolapo Fasawe on behalf of FCTA said that “the project being rolled out across all six Area Councils of the FCT is a deliberate response to a major public health challenge owing to the concern that too many households still depend on firewood, charcoal, and kerosene for cooking”.
In her words: “These fuels generate harmful smoke that pollutes indoor air and contributes to cough, asthma, pneumonia, eye problems, and other respiratory illnesses -conditions that disproportionately affect women, children, the elderly, and small-scale food vendors thus; the objective of the project is to reduce indoor air pollution.”
In an effort to address these existing health issues amongst women and children, the Mandate Secretary (FCT-HSES) stated that, IHS Nigeria has added Health Insurance Scheme to beneficiaries of the project for one year.
This is to protect the health as well as support vulnerable and indigent households to transition sustainably to clean cooking by providing one-year free refill vouchers for beneficiaries.
“The refill vouchers will ensure continuity and prevent a return to polluting fuels because the model supports habit formation, long-term behaviour change, and better health outcomes like reducing healthcare costs, saving time, and improving household safety as well as environmental safety,” she emphasized.
Earlier, the Senior Vice President of IHS Nigeria Mr. Dapo Otunla said that “Project Breathe Clean Air -Abuja” as an initiative resonates with the company and aligns closely with three out of four sustainability pillars (our people and community, environment and climate change as well as education and economic) growth hence the reason behind sponsorship of the project which is truly an important step towards building a cleaner, healthier vibrant and more sustainable Federal Capital Territory.
Furthermore, Otunla reteirated that partnering with HSES reaffirms IHS’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy adoption, and supporting the health and well-being of host communities through tangible steps aimed at achieving positive outcomes towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for Abuja and Nigeria as a whole.
Also, the Director of Primary Health Care, Gwagwalada Area Council Dr. Adeyemi Adeniran in his opening remarks appreciated the Mandate Secretary and IHS Nigeria for conceiving, actualizing and supporting such a project aimed at greatly impacting the people of FCT.
He also commended the community leaders in the Area Council for ensuring smooth entry into the community while also calling for more beneficial partnership between government and private organizations in area of renewable energy.
To ensure safety and caution, a Superintendent of Fire from Federal Fire Service, Engr. Aliyu Mahmud educated beneficiaries on safety measures to guide use of gas cylinders by demonstrating how to light and put off the gas, what to do when too much fire spreads on the burner and where and how to keep gas cylinders for safe use.
A beneficiary, Victoria Joshua who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries appreciated FCTA and IHS Nigeria for the laudable project which will promote clean cooking and ensure that people are healthy. Adding that the free one-year health insurance is a huge succour and money saved from refilling their gases cylinders.
She noted that the free refill voucher will be channeled to other use for more relief.
