STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN COOKSTOVES TO COMBAT INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

By Martin Anguyo

Arua City

Stakeholders have urged the people of West Nile to adopt clean energy cooking stoves in order to reduce their exposure to harmful indoor air pollution, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and other health problems.

Clean energy cooking stoves offer a healthier, safer, and more sustainable alternative to traditional cooking methods by reducing indoor air pollution, deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

Bernard Awich, the Environmental Consultant for the Arua Diocese, explained that, clean cook stoves use less fuel, which helps families save money and contributes to reducing deforestation. "As Arua diocese, we are really concerned and therefore I want to appeal to Christians to adopt using clean energy stoves and also avoid cutting down trees unnecessarily. We need to try as much as possible to avoid the rigid cultural norms so that we allow people to participate in greening the environment" Bernard said.

Similarly, Godwin Ochen, Coordinator of the I-Kitty Life Organization, noted that the main challenge lies in the lack of support from both technical and political leaders, which complicates the implementation and widespread use of clean energy cooking stoves.

"Our focus is advocacy. Why? Because that is where our role starts. How we talk and how do we advocate. Advocacy is from grass root levels to right stakeholders and to duty bearers. Whatever we are doing, let there be knowledge generated so that people could discuss with facts" noted Godwin.
 
Clean cooking stoves, such as those developed by companies like African Clean Energy (ACE), use less fuel through improved thermal efficiency and often incorporate features like solar-powered fans for heat control and charging capabilities for other devices.